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Your votes saw Dean Elgar awarded Player of the Match recognition in Essex’s draw with Durham this week.

Elgar, who ground out a doughty unbeaten 120 on the final day to ensure the Eagles were able to bat out the match, received 56.9% of the vote in a poll on Essex Cricket’s X page.

Paul Walter, who in the first innings also amassed a century, finished in second place with 36.8%, while spin-bowling all-rounders Simon Harmer and Matt Critchley took an identical 3.1% each.

With the Eagles needing either 433 to win in the fourth innings or to avoid being bowled out on Day Four, Elgar partnered with captain Tom Westley, who also resisted for 63 not out from 229 balls.

It is Elgar’s first Player of the Match award this summer, and comes after his century represented the second time he has hit three figures for Essex, as well as the 50th time he has done so in his career.

Anthony McGrath’s side remain firmly in the title race after eight games, just 12 points behind champions Surrey ahead of a titanic showdown between the top two at the Oval on Sunday.

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.

With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.

As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

A 13-man squad has been selected for the First-Class County Select XI’s three-day match against West Indies at Beckenham starting on Wednesday 3 July.

Jamal Richards features in the squad which is made up of upcoming players from across 11 first-class counties and provides an opportunity to test themselves against international opposition.

This season’s loanee, Harry Duke is also among the names included.

ECB Men’s Performance Director, Ed Barney, said: “We’re delighted to have selected a high-potential group that we know will thrive against the West Indies. It is a brilliant opportunity for some of the most talented players to show their strengths as future stars of the game. We are looking forward to seeing them develop, perform and enjoy the occasion.”

FCC Select XI squad: Farhan Ahmed (Nottinghamshire), Sonny Baker (Somerset), Harry Duke (Yorkshire), Bertie Foreman (Sussex), Ben Geddes (Surrey), Josh Hull (Leicestershire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Will Luxton (Yorkshire), Ben McKinney (Durham), Jamal Richards (Essex), Hamza Shaikh (Warwickshire), Harry Singh (Lancashire), John Turner (Hampshire).

In the midst of the most intense period of cricket of the summer, Lead Physiotherapist Vishal Kanji spoke to EssexCricketTV to explain how the squad are kept match-fit.

Kanji talked of his positivity towards his second season at The Cloud County Ground, explained the approach he and the coaching team take to give the Essex players the best chance of avoiding injury, and provided an update on the recovery of key members of the squad who are currently out.

Essex v Durham

Vitality County Championship

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Sunday 23 – Wednesday 26 June 2024 | 11:00am start

 
Having taken in eight breathless games of Vitality Blast action at breakneck speed, the more serene surroundings of the Vitality County Championship are back at The Cloud County Ground on Sunday.

Essex will mark the return of red-ball cricket by welcoming Durham to Chelmsford, having ended the last block of Championship cricket with two consecutive wins over Warwickshire and Kent.

Both victories were earned over four days, with the home win over the Bears coming after a successful colossal chase of 330 while the points haul picked up in Canterbury followed a titanic bowling effort.

At the Spitfire Ground St Lawrence, Essex piled up 591-7 declared as former Kent man Jordan Cox struck a mammoth 207 while Michael Pepper contributed a swift 82 and Nick Browne hit 65.

In reply, the Eagles forced the follow-on by dismissing Kent for 394, with Matt Critchley collecting 5/88, before ripping through the hosts in the second innings to skittle them for just 101.

Now, Anthony McGrath’s side sit just two points behind Surrey at the summit of Division One with half of the season’s Championship action complete, and two crucial games coming up.

Squad

Head Coach McGrath has named a 13-strong squad for the match, with two changes to the last red-ball group that travelled to Kent a month ago.

New overseas signing Eathan Bosch is in for the injured Sam Cook, while Paul Walter returns in place of Noah Thain.

The Inside Line: Tom Huggins

The Opposition

Durham were promoted from Division Two in 2023 in utterly dominant fashion, racking up seven wins and 233 points to finish far clear at the top.

They were defeated just once all season, in their first match of the campaign away at Sussex, and subsequently went on a rampant unbeaten run that saw them easily promoted.

This is their first season back in the top flight since 2016, but recent inexperience has not counted against Ryan Campbell’s side, as they sit comfortably in mid-table with 83 points.

They began with three draws from four in April, including a complete washout in their opener at home to Hampshire, but the exception was a 185-run win over Worcestershire at Kidderminster.

Since then, the North East outfit have recorded one of every result, with another draw against Hampshire followed up by a defeat to Lancashire and a crushing innings win over Somerset.

England Men’s Test captain Ben Stokes may have returned to the Durham fold to play in their last two matches, but he is absent for this game and it is David Bedingham, with 795 runs, and Ben Raine, with 17 wickets, who are their top performers so far in 2024.

Durham squad: Scott Borthwick (c), Colin Ackermann, David Bedingham, Graham Clark, Paul Coughlin, Michael Jones, Bas de Leede, Alex Lees, Callum Parkinson, Matthew Potts, Ben Raine, Ollie Robinson, Peter Siddle.

Last Time We Met

This is the return fixture between the sides this summer after Essex took a trip to the Seat Unique Riverside in late April, returning with 12 points after a washed-out third day forced a draw.

In the temporary absence of Tom Westley, who became a father for the second time during the game in Chester-le-Street, Sam Cook stepped up for his first match as Essex captain.

With Durham batting first on what looked a good pitch, an impressive bowling performance saw them all out for 358, with Colin Ackermann hitting 112 and Cook and Jamie Porter each taking three wickets.

In reply, Essex piled up 488 all out either side of a rained-off Day 3, as Nick Browne top-scored with a massive 184 on his first appearance of the season and Feroze Khushi also hit 107.

Cook, operating as a nightwatchman opener late on the first day, had also hit 25, prompting much discussion about the last Essex captain to simultaneously open the batting and the bowling.

Despite the sizeable first-innings advantage, the weather interruptions meant that a victory was improbable in the time that remained, and Durham had reached 131-2 before the draw was agreed.

Division One Table

How To Watch

If you are not able to make it to The Cloud County Ground in person, the game will be streamed live on the EssexCricketTV YouTube channel and available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone.

A report and reaction will be published on the Club website after each day’s play via the Club website, while live updates and daily highlights will be provided on the Club’s social media channels.

Tickets

Members of both counties are free to sit in any available and vacant seat, though the Doug Insole Pavilion benches and blocks 1-14 and 27-31 are reserved specifically for their use.

Meanwhile, general admission advance tickets are priced at £16 for adults, while young adults aged between 18 and 25 can buy at any time for £12 and under-18 tickets cost just £6.

A family ticket, covering two adults and two children, costs just £35, while a four-day ticket covering the entire match can be purchased over the phone for £44.

Please note that these two types of ticket are only available in advance of the fixture, and that individual adult tickets will rise in price to £20 if bought on the day.

Tickets can be purchased by calling 01245 254010 or by visiting the link below:

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.

With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.

As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

The Vitality County Championship makes a welcomed return to the fixture schedule with Durham making the long trip south to The Cloud County Ground.

A number of familiar faces return to the match day squad following a three week period of T20 cricket, including Club Captain Tom Westley.

Gates Opening Times:

Gates open from 10am on all four days via the Main Entrance on New Writtle Street or the Tees River Gate, which is closest to Chelmsford City Centre and the Bus/Train Stations.

Scheduled Hours of Play:

Toss (Day One): 10:30am
Morning Session: 11am-1pm
Afternoon Session: 1:40pm-3:40pm
Evening Session: 4pm-6pm
Close of Play: 6pm

Members Entry & Matchday Tickets:

Vitality County Championship cricket is part of the 2024 Membership and Members are required to scan cards on entry.

Supporters visiting individual matchdays can purchase discounted tickets in advance to speed up entry into the ground.

Advanced tickets are available online at £16 for Adults [£20 on the gate], £12 for Students/Young Adults (18-25) [£12 on the gate] and £6 for Juniors (U18s).

These can be purchased online via the following link or by phone (01245 254010) in person at The Cloud County Ground.

Tickets will also be available on the gates from 9:30am each day and this is strictly card sales only. Post-lunch tickets are priced £11 for Adults, with entry free of charge after the scheduled Tea break.

Matchday Purchases:

The Cloud County Ground is a cashless ground, which includes purchasing tickets and scorecards on the gates, plus food and drink purchases in the Doug Insole Pavilion and concourse areas.

Scorecards will be available for £1 on the gates via contactless payment, however, cash purchases can be made in the Essex Cricket Store.

Accessibility:

Accessible Parking:
Accessible car parking spaces are located at The Cloud County Ground and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that these cannot be pre-booked before visiting to provide an equal opportunity for all supporters.

Accessible Seating:
Accessible seating can be found in the Graham Gooch End (formerly Hayes Close End) of the ground and a wheelchair-accessible platform is located in Block One of the Tom Pearce Stand.

Carers can enter the ground on a companion ticket which is free of charge. This is upon the presentation in the Membership & Ticketing Office or on the gate with proof of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people under 16 years old.

Accessible Facilities:
New accessible toilet facilities located by Block 31 will be open for all spectators this season. Additional toilets for wheelchair users are located at the rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion and main scoreboard.

We can also accept a Blue Badge and Access card.

Accessible Toilets:
Wheelchair-accessible toilets are located behind the main scorecard (Red Area), rear of the Doug Insole Pavilion (Blue Area) and adjacent to Block 25 at County Corner (Green Area).

Ahead of Your Visit:

In the event of adverse weather conditions on the day of the match, please keep up to date with the prospects of play via the Club’s Twitter and Facebook channels.

Please note that the Prospect of Play phone line is no longer in use and all updates will be available online via the official social media channels.

Travel:

Parking:
• Spectators travelling by car will need to locate a public car park in the proximity of the ground as there is no parking available on-site at The Cloud County Ground.

• The High Chelmer multi-storey will be open across all four days.

• The Meteor Way car park will be available for Members’ to book during the 2024 season. There are a limited number of spaces available at Meteor Way and we advise that Members pre-book for £2 as spaces aren’t guaranteed to be available on the day and the price of parking on the day will increase to £3.

Season Passes for the Vitality County Championship have now sold out along with all pre-booked spaces for Friday 17 May. Please note, spaces for day one (Sunday 22 June) are sold out.

There is still availability for the remaining days of the Durham fixture as well as all remaining Vitality County Championship fixtures – here.

The car park is open three hours before the start of play and on a first-come, first-served basis. Meteor Way car park will close 30 minutes after the end of play.

Public Transport:
• Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the county. Alternatively, bus numbers 13, 46 and C1 shuttles, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the Ground, via New Writtle Street.

• Chelmsford Railway Station, managed by Greater Anglia, is about a 10-minute stroll from The Cloud County Ground. Direct train services depart regularly from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline.

Ground Entry:

• Spectators are able to enter the ground via the Main Gate located on New Writtle Street or through the Tees River Gate.

• For the safety of everyone at the ground, there will be bag checks in operation and security present throughout the fixture.

• In the event of rain forecast on the day of the match, spectators can bring a small umbrella into the ground but metal spiked umbrellas are not permitted.

• The Doug Insole Pavilion is open for Members upon the presentation of a valid Membership card and accessible by entering the ground through the Main Gate.

• Members are not required to pre-book a match ticket and can enter by scanning their Membership card on the gate. If you require a replacement card, please get in contact with the Membership & Ticketing Office before the fixture to arrange a replacement or this may cause delays on entry for you and other spectators.

• Entry to this fixture is included in 2024 Membership and encourage Members to arrive in plenty of time to secure your seat. All seating for Championship games is Unallocated and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

• There will be an open ground for this match allowing spectators to walk around the whole concourse area at The Cloud County Ground with access to the Club shop and other facilities.

Members will still have access to dedicated Members’ seating areas which will be located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for Members and general public.

General Public Seating:

• Supporters who have purchased tickets can enter the ground by scanning the QR on your tickets that has been sent to you via email following your purchase. If you choose to print out your ticket, please ensure that the match details (including name and seat details) are included as per the image below. Make sure you have your match ticket available on your phone or printed out so it is easily accessible for ticket scanning on arrival. Please do not take a ‘screen grab’ of your QR code as that will not be read by the scanners.

• Ticket holders can sit in all areas of the ground for this match, except for the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower stands.

Around the Ground:

• Spectators are welcome to enter the pitch during the lunch & tea breaks when instructed over PA or by a member of the Club’s stewarding team. Please follow the guidance to the specific areas permitted to enter and please respect the playing surface. We encourage spectators to play on the outfield but please use softballs.

• Spectators are permitted to walk around the full concourse area with better access to the Club Store and other facilities.

Members will still have exclusive access to dedicated Members’ seating areas, which are located in the Doug Insole Pavilion and Tom Pearce Upper & Lower Stands. All other seating areas in the ground will be available for both Members and general public.

Please note that seating for Vitality County Championship fixtures is unallocated so will be available on a first come, first served basis.

• Spectators are permitted to move behind the Doug Insole Pavilion but please respect the players’ area and walkway.

• A faith and reflection room is available for all spectators who wish to use this facility. It is open for the duration of the match and located within the Graham Gooch Cricket Centre.

• The Club Store and Membership & Ticketing Office will be open for spectators for the duration of your visit.

• The Peter Edwards Museum & Library is located on-site adjacent to the Essex Cricket Store and will be open for the duration of the game.

Visit during the match to view the exhibition on the career of Nasser Hussain and entry is free of charge.

• If you experience any anti-social or discriminatory behaviour during your visit to The Cloud County Ground then, please contact your nearest steward. Alternatively, you can email [email protected] or text ‘CROWD’ including your stand and issue to 60066.

• Free Wi-Fi is available at The Cloud County Ground for every matchday giving supporters the opportunity to access the internet and the Club’s live stream online. Simply logon to ‘EC-Public’ from your seat to access.

Food & Drink:

• At the Doug Insole Pavilion, you can enjoy a diverse selection of hot and cold beverages from the bar, along with a variety of snacks for purchase.

• Anne’s Pantry will be offering a choice of home-cooked meals, cakes/snacks, and drinks from their refreshment kiosks located in the Graham Gooch End and Sir Alastair Cook End.

They will be serving a range of meals suitable for all dietary requirements including vegan, vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free, as well as children’s portions.

• Other refreshment kiosks include bar areas located at either end of the ground in County Corner and Spinners Bar, serving drinks and snacks.

• Spectators can bring food and drink into the ground for this fixture but please ensure all bags can be stored underneath your seat. A limit of four cans of beer/lager or one bottle of wine per person is in place for this fixture and there is strictly no glass or sharp objects permitted into the ground.

• Please note that facilities in the County Corner area of the ground will be closed on Day Four of this fixture and please make sure you bring a suitable method of card payment for your visit.

Leaving the Ground:

At the conclusion of the day’s play, we ask spectators to leave the ground in a safe and patient manner. Stewards will be on hand to help direct you safely out of the ground.

We hope you have an enjoyable visit to The Cloud County Ground and further information regarding the match, including squad announcements and a full match preview will be available on www.essexcricket.org.uk ahead of the match.

Get in touch with us by email if you have any further questions at [email protected] or via the Club’s official Twitter and Facebook channels.

Watch The Action On the Move

Our live stream will be available to watch over the four days with multi-angled ball tracking, replays and commentary courtesy of BBC Essex. Head to the Essex Cricket Matchzone to watch the action live ahead of the toss on Day One, plus view an interactive scorecard, stats and individual match clips.

Visit Matchzone

Kent Spitfires v Essex

Vitality Blast

The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury

Friday 21 June 2024 | 6:30pm

Team News:

Kent Spitfires: Zak Crawley, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Marcus O’Riordan, Sam Billings (C) (WK), Joey Evison, Harry Finch, Tawanda Muyeye, Beyers Swanepoel, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Gilchrist, Matt Parkinson

Essex: Adam Rossington (wk), Dean Elgar, Michael Pepper, Jordan Cox, Paul Walter, Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Simon Harmer (C), Luc Benkenstein, Ben Allison, Aaron Beard

Match Details

Umpires: Martin Saggers & James Tredwell
Match Referee: Simon Hinks
Toss: Essex win the toss and bowl
Result: Essex win by 5 wickets

Scorecard: View here

Match Highlights

Match Report

Essex’ condemned the Kent Spitfires to a fifth consecutive Vitality Blast defeat on Friday night as they cruised to a five-wicket win at Canterbury.

Simon Harmer, Ben Allison and Matt Critchley all claimed two wickets as Kent were limited to 156 for seven, Sam Billings the highest scorer with 38.

It never looked like being enough on a typically batter-friendly St. Lawrence wicket and Michael Pepper blasted 76 from 42 balls as the visitors coasted home with five overs to spare, finishing on 157 for five.

Essex chose to bowl and got Daniel Bell-Drummond for 10, Allison duping him into a false shot that looped to Pepper at deep backward point.

Zak Crawley had made 20 when he hit Critchley to Allison on the deep-midwicket boundary and the umpires ruled his foot wasn’t in contact with the rope as he took a juggling catch.

Tawanda Muyeye hit Simon Harmer back over his head for six but was bowled off the next ball for 18, giving Harmer his first Blast wicket of the season.

Joey Evison went for seven, swatting Paul Walter to Allison at mid-off, but the real prize was Billings, who hit Critchley almost vertically before Luc Benkenstein took a steepling catch.

Marcus O’Riordan made 20 from 11 before playing on to Harmer, Allison bowled Beyers Swanepoel for two and it was left to Harry Finch to milk what he could from the tail, finishing on 24 not out.

The Essex innings was just an over old when the umpires took the players off because the sun was apparently “too bright,” prompting the DJ to play “Walking on Sunshine” by Katrina and the Waves.

They were almost at the rope when a cloud appeared and they were called back. Adam Rossington lasted just three more balls before he chipped Xavier Bartlett to Nathan Gilchrist.

A second light delay followed before Gilchrist had Dean Elgar caught by O’Riordan for seven, leading to an eventful Jordan Cox cameo against his former county. He walked out to a mixture of booing and applause and responded with three successive fours off Bartlett. He then dumped Gilchrist for consecutive sixes, only to sky his next ball to Billings, falling for an eight-ball 26 and walking off to cries of “Judas” and worse from an unforgiving handful of home fans.

After nine overs it was 99 for three and the WASP predictor suggested Essex were 99 percent likely to win. That was absurd as Walter immediately holed out to Matt Parkinson and was caught by an inrushing Bartlett for 15, but Pepper was playing with such ease that any realistic home hopes had faded long before swished at Evison and Parkinson couldn’t cling on at short third man.

With fans streaming for the exits Gilchrist had Pepper caught on the boundary by Finch, leaving Critchley to score the winning runs with an inside edge that went for four.

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

By taking to the field in Thursday’s Vitality Blast win over Hampshire Hawks, Essex T20 captain Simon Harmer became just the seventh man to play 100 matches in the format for the Eagles.

Harmer, who made his shortest-format debut for Essex in July 2017, joins Ryan ten Doeschate, James Foster, Ravi Bopara, Mark Pettini, Graham Napier, and Tom Westley in reaching the milestone.

In that time, the South African has taken 98 wickets for the Eagles at an average of 25.93, boasting an impressive strike rate of 19.30 and an economy of 8.06.

The 35-year-old has also remained a useful option with bat in hand down the order, playing 66 Essex innings during his century of appearances, and from that, scoring 583 runs.

Although his top score is 31, perhaps Harmer’s best innings for the Eagles was his unbeaten 18 off seven balls against Worcestershire Rapids in the 2019 final, which contained the match-winning four.

That night was the zenith of Harmer’s shortest-format Essex career, and came a little over two years after his T20 debut for the club at home to Surrey.

He may have had an innocuous outing that saw him go wicketless and be unrequired with the bat, but it was only the start of a career that has seen the spinner establish himself as a recent Essex great.

Harmer has skippered Essex in 75 of his 100 games, with his captaincy debut coming in August 2018 at home to Kent, and his first win in the role arriving over Surrey at Chelmsford two games later.

In all, he has led the Eagles to 38 victories as captain, including two on that famous day at Edgbaston in September 2019 that culminated in him lifting the Vitality Blast trophy.

For Essex Members and supporters, though, the best news is that with over two years left on his contract, there is yet more history to be created by the man from Pretoria who is now one of our own.

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.

With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.

As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

Essex v Hampshire Hawks

Vitality Blast

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford

Thursday 20 June 2024 | 7:00pm

Team News

Essex: Adam Rossington+, Dean Elgar, Michael Pepper, Jordan Cox, Paul Walter, Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Simon Harmer*, Luc Benkenstein, Shane Snater, Ben Allison.

Hampshire Hawks: Ben McDermott+, James Vince*, Fletcha Middleton, Toby Albert, Joe Weatherley, Benny Howell, James Fuller, Michael Neser, Brad Wheal, John Turner, Chris Wood.

Match Details

Umpires: Ian Blackwell & Anthony Harris
Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Fiona Newnham
Match Referee: Peter Such
Toss: Essex won the toss and opted to bowl first
Result: Essex won by eight wickets

Scorecard: View here

Match Highlights

Match Reaction: Ben Allison

Match Report

Ben Allison claimed three wickets before Dean Elgar kept up his fine form by striking an unbeaten 60 off 44 as Essex completed an eight-wicket demolition job of Hampshire Hawks at The Cloud County Ground.

Elgar smashed his second fifty in a row, while Jordan Cox amassed an unbeaten 45 from 25 and hammered the winning four as the Eagles chased down Hampshire’s 166-7 for the loss of just two wickets in 16.5 overs.

Earlier, Joe Weatherley top-scored for Hampshire with a measured 48 before falling to Allison, who ended the innings with 3/44 alongside Matt Critchley’s 2/20 to heavily restrict Hampshire.

Having opted to insert the Hawks after winning the toss, the Essex attack found early joy as dangerous openers, Ben McDermott and James Vince, were both removed for 15.

Ben Allison was involved in both, first seeing Australian McDermott caught by Michael Pepper on the square leg boundary, before turning catcher himself off Shane Snater to take the huge wicket of Vince.

Young pair Fletcha Middleton and Joe Weatherley managed to rebuild, with their stand of 47 helped Hampshire to halfway without further loss, though the bowlers retained the upper hand at 78-2.

Paul Walter provided the breakthrough two balls into the 11th over, removing Middleton via an Adam Rossington catch for a run-a-ball 18, and there was further joy when Albert followed for 10.

It was Matt Critchley who was the architect of his downfall, with Charlie Allison claiming his maiden senior T20 catch to complete the job.

Hampshire remained in trouble at 117-6 when Benny Howell’s scratchy cameo of five from ten balls was ended lbw by Critchley, before Weatherley became Allison’s second victim in the same way.

A speedy unbeaten 39 from James Fuller off 18 deliveries gave the visitors some impetus at the end that they were otherwise sorely lacking, enabling them to at least post a target in excess of 160.

The final wicket was Allison’s third, with Elgar claiming an impressive high catch to see off Michael Neser for 12, before Walter finished the job by conceding just one from the final three balls.

Adam Rossington gave Essex a rip-roaring start, bashing back-to-back sixes as part of three consecutive boundaries on his way to an eight-ball 18 as the Eagles soared to 61-1 after the powerplay.

Elgar and Michael Pepper pressed on in typically aggressive fashion, trading boundaries aplenty to see the hosts breeze past 100 in just the ninth over, and reach 108-1 at halfway.

That left Essex with the relatively simple task of needing less than a run per ball in the remainder of the innings, and opener Elgar continued his purple patch by reaching a 34-ball fifty in the 12th over.

Pepper fell to a Neser catch off Chris Wood before he was able to do the same, though his effort of 44 from just 24, that included three sixes, kept the rate ticking.

He handed the reins to Cox, who allowed the Hawks bowlers no let-up, and alongside Elgar, steered the Eagles to a dominant victory with more than three full overs to spare.

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

Essex v Hampshire Hawks | Kent Spitfires v Essex

Vitality Blast

The Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford | The Spitfire Ground, Canterbury

Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm | Friday 21 June, 6:30pm

 
After games on consecutive days to round out last week, Essex again face back-to-back matches with the visit of Hampshire Hawks on Thursday, before a trip to Kent Spitfires beckons on Friday.

The Eagles are aiming to bounce back from a defeat to Sussex Sharks on Friday night, though that only came after a thoroughly impressive win against the odds over Middlesex at Lord’s the day before.

In a frequently-interrupted affair at the Home of Cricket, Essex blasted their way to 129-4 from the 12.4 overs that were possible, before then restricting the hosts to 63-2 from six in a pursuit of 80.

Unfortunately, attempts to back that up against Sussex on Friday were in vain, as the Eagles’ 178-9 was overhauled with eight wickets and 4.2 overs to spare.

Now, Anthony McGrath’s side will look to bounce back in two fixtures that each have an edge to them, with the former being a repeat of last season’s semi-final and the latter a Battle of the Bridge clash.

Squad

Head Coach McGrath has named an unchanged 14-player squad for both games.

The Inside Line: Anthony McGrath

The Opposition: Hampshire Hawks

Perennially a strong contender in the shortest format, Hampshire are the joint-most successful county in this competition’s history, with three titles, and a record ten appearances at Finals Day.

They have appeared there in each of the last three seasons, though their historical dominance is underlined by the fact that between 2010 and 2015, they never failed to reach at least the last four.

By those high past standards, the Hawks have begun the 2024 campaign slowly, with two wins from six matches, which allied with two washouts, has put them fifth in the South Group, just behind Essex.

However, they retain the services of some high-quality players, with the likes of James Vince, Ben McDermott, Liam Dawson, and Michael Neser all in their ranks.

Hampshire Hawks squad: Toby Albert, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Benny Howell, Ben McDermott, Fletcha Middleton, Michael Neser, Felix Organ, John Turner, James Vince*, Joe Weatherley, Brad Wheal, Chris Wood.

Last Time We Met: Hampshire Hawks

Last season’s semi-final will live long in the memory of Essex fans, with the Eagles securing a dramatic five-wicket win via the DLS method to advance to the final.

Batting first after losing the toss, Hampshire posted 170-7, with Joe Weatherley striking an unbeaten 63 from 39 balls and Matt Critchley being the pick of the bowlers with 2/22.

Less than three overs into the chase, however, with Essex 19-1, rain forced the players from the field for an hour, and recalculated the Essex target to requiring 115 from 12 overs: in other words, a further 96 from 55 balls.

Crucial contributions from Critchley, who hit 26 not out from 14, and Daniel Sams, who made 29 off 17, set up Simon Harmer to dramatically blast Nathan Ellis for the winning six with three balls to spare.

The Opposition: Kent Spitfires

As Essex’s arch-rivals, clashes with Kent Spitfires are always keenly anticipated, with the fixture working the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge – better known as the Dartford Bridge – into its excitable name.

Over the years, the Battle of the Bridge has been played to a conclusion in T20 cricket 39 times – with one no result – and the breakdown is predictably even, with 18 wins for Essex compared to Kent’s 21.

The Spitfires have won the title twice, in 2007 and 2021, and have appeared at Finals Day on four occasions, though this season, four defeats from six games has put them eighth in the South Group.

Captain Sam Billings leads the way with the bat, having struck 211 runs at an average of 35.16, while spinner Matt Parkinson’s seven wickets at 19.28 apiece mark him out as the leading bowler.

Kent Spitfires squad: TBC

Last Time We Met: Kent Spitfires

It was a difficult evening at The Cloud County Ground the last time Kent visited, with the Eagles falling to a seven-wicket defeat with ten balls to spare.

Put in after losing the toss, Essex posted 184 all out, with Dan Lawrence’s 52 from 36 balls the top score and valuable contributions also coming from Will Buttleman and Matt Critchley, who each hit 31.

In reply, Kent suffered the early loss of Tawanda Muyeye for 12, caught by Buttleman off Daniel Sams, but a big partnership between Daniel Bell-Drummond and Joe Denly swung the game.

Bell-Drummond ended unbeaten on 69 from 49, while Denly went even better with 76 off just 32, handing Kent the two points in the penultimate over.

South Group Table

How To Watch

If you are not able to attend either or both matches, each will be live-streamed – on the usual EssexCricketTV YouTube channel and through the Essex Cricket Matchzone on Thursday and then on the Kent Cricket Play platform on Friday. Please note that Kent charge a £5.99 fee for their live stream.

A report will be published on the Club website at the conclusion of each game, while live updates and highlights from both will be provided on the Essex Cricket social media channels.

Tickets

There is still some availability for the Hampshire fixture on Thursday, with prices starting at £30 for adults, £25 for young adults and students, and £7 for juniors.

The Kenton Group Stand at the Graham Gooch End of the ground is the designated family stand for this year’s Vitality Blast, with blocks 27-29 being alcohol-free and blocks 30 & 31 being the alcohol-tolerant family area.

Seats are in shorter supply for Friday night’s Battle of the Bridge clash in Canterbury, with the upper tier of the Frank Woolley Stand sold out and general admission for the rest of the ground showing limited availability.

Tickets for the home game with Hampshire Hawks are available on this link:

Meanwhile, tickets for the trip to Kent can be purchased by clicking this link:

The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground

Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.

With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.

As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.

Thursday 20 June, 7:00pm: Essex v Hampshire Hawks – buy here
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here
Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here

South African fast-bowling all-rounder Eathan Bosch has signed for Essex on a short-term deal covering four Vitality County Championship matches.

The 26-year-old hails from KwaZulu-Natal on South Africa’s east coast, and has represented his home province as well as its franchise form Dolphins, in 38 first-class matches since his debut in 2017.

He possesses a bowling average of 27.18 in the format, having claimed 92 wickets, while he has proven himself a handy batter too, notching a century and seven fifties on his way to 1,053 runs at 22.89.

Bosch has also represented his country at Under-19 level, playing two Youth Tests and two Youth ODIs, and turned out for Pretoria Capitals in both the 2023 and 2024 editions of the SA20 competition.

With Essex once again challenging for the Championship title at the halfway stage, Bosch will be available for matches at home to Durham and Worcestershire and away to Surrey and Hampshire.

“I’m super excited to be here,” said Bosch. “It was a pretty easy deal to accept, and I’m looking forward to my time with the Eagles. It will be nice to play outside of South Africa, and to see what my skills can bring to the table.”

“It will definitely be a learning experience, but I’m looking forward to experiencing a bit more of the country, and especially Chelmsford!”

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “Eathan is a terrific addition for us, and we’re delighted to welcome him to the team.

“There’s huge value in a well-stocked seam bowling cupboard, and with his experience of bowling in different conditions, he will add a new dimension to our attack.

“He will also be able to push everyone around him to new heights, which will be extremely beneficial as the Championship season heads towards its finale.”