Essex Eagles: Tom Westley, Will Buttleman (wk), Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Jimmy Neesham, Simon Harmer (c), Jack Plom, Aron Nijjar, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Hampshire Hawks: James Vince (c), D’Arcy Short, Tom Alsop, Joe Weatherley, Liam Dawson, James Fuller, Lewis McManus (wk), Ian Holland, Chris Wood, Mason Crane, Brad Wheal.
Match Details:
Umpires: Graham Lloyd & Paul Pollard Toss: Essex Eagles who elected to field Result: Hampshire Hawks win by 13 runs – view scorecard
Match Highlights:
Match Report:
Essex Eagles suffered a 13 run defeat in their match against the Hampshire Hawks at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Following their thrilling victory against Somerset 48 hours earlier, they succumbed tamely when replying to what appeared a modest 155-6 .
The Eagles were bowled out for 142 after Tom Westley top-scored with 44 from 29 balls before he was run out by Ian Holland’s direct throw from short fine leg.
A half-century between Westley and Paul Walter in only six overs promised to pave the way for the Eagles second victory of the campaign but once the latter was stumped off leg-spinner Mason Crane with the total now 77-3 at the end of eight overs, wickets tumbled.
Wednesday’s hero Jimmy Neesham hit a spirited 28 from 16 deliveries that included two sixes and two fours but when he departed to leave the score 120-6, the home side never really threatened to deny their opponents’ success.
The last five wickets went down for 22 runs to hand Hampshire victory with four balls to spare.
The visitors who were put into bat, were never able to accelerate as they wished thanks to some tight bowling and fine fielding.
Sam Cook conceded only 21 in his four overs and picked up two wickets, the first as a result of a magnificent catch above his head by Aron Nijjar to remove opener James Vince for 23.
Cook also got rid of the Hawks other opener, Australian international D’Arcy Short, for 26 as debutant Will Buttleman accepted a straightforward catch.
Debutant Buttleman, who was deputising for regular wicket-keeper Adam Wheater who was suffering with a side strain, enjoyed a highly competent game with the gloves. He collected a second victim when he pulled off a neat stumping to remove Liam Dawson that provided off-spinner and skipper Simon Harmer with success.
Hampshire were guided Joe Weatherley who struck 42 from 37 balls, his innings coming to an end when he swung a delivery from Neesham, one of seven bowlers used by the Eagles, to deep mid-wicket.
James Fuller weighed in with 25 from 13 balls before he departed during an eventful over by Jamie Porter. The batsman collected successive sixes but then skied the next delivery to Nijjar in the covers.
Cook, with figures of 2/21 from four overs and Harmer, 2/23 from three overs, were the chief wicket takers for the Eagles who now travel to Cardiff to meet Glamorgan on Sunday in their next Vitality Blast fixture.
The 2021 season begins on Friday evening as the Eagles host Hampshire Hawks in the opening Vitality Blast match of the season at The Cloudfm County Ground.
The game will be played in front of a limited crowd at Fortress Chelmsford but you can tune in to our Live Stream from 6:30pm for our pre-match show, ahead of a 7pm start.
Our streaming service is available for all home games this season will be available across every game at The Cloudfm County Ground. The Vitality Blast competition welcomes back matchday host, Simon Ward who will be joined by a number of special guests throughout the campaign beginning with Graham Gooch who is joining us for the competition opener on Friday evening.
Have a question about the Club’s Live Stream service? We welcome questions or feedback regarding our live stream production and you can get in touch with the commentary team on Twitter by using #SoarWithUs.
Essex Cricket are delighted to announce the opening of the new-look Tees River Gate in partnership with local law firm, Tees.
Tees have been a partner of Essex Cricket since 2017 and are extending their relationship with the Club through the revamped entrance, which is overlooked by their Chelmsford offices.
Members will get a chance to use the gate for Essex Eagles’ opening Vitality Blast fixture against Hampshire Hawks on Friday 11 June as the Club continue to welcome back spectators once again.
As well as the new gate, supporters will also be able to walk through the Champions Walkway and bask in the glory of the team’s recent successes in both the long and short formats of the game.
Ashton Hunt, Group Managing Director at Tees Law, said: “We couldn’t be more excited to take our partnership with Essex Cricket to the next level with the new Tees River Gate. The walk to a sports ground is a nostalgic experience and we’re delighted to add to that with the new gate and Champions walkway, which sit adjacent to our offices.”
John Faragher, Executive Chairman at Essex Cricket, said: “The Cloudfm County Ground is a truly special place during the T20 campaign and we can’t wait for our loyal supporters to finally see us play white-ball cricket live in person again. The new Tees River Gate will make this experience even more special for fans and they’ll get to toast our past successes on their way into the ground.”
Essex Cricket are teaming up with Tees to offer more treats to supporters in June. The first 50 fans to enter via the Tees River Gate during our Vitality Blast fixture against Kent Spitfires on Friday 25 June will receive a complimentary drink on arrival.
Find out more about Tees: Tees is a Top 200 UK law firm with six offices in the East of England. They provide expert legal services and independent financial advice to individuals and businesses alike. To find out more, visit their website.
Vitality Blast
The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford
Friday 11 June
7pm start
Essex Eagles entertain Hampshire Hawks in the Vitality Blast competition at The Cloudfm County Ground on Friday night with the match scheduled to start at 7pm.
The game will be played in front of up to 600 Members who were successful in the ballot for the first of 7 home matches in the T20 campaign this season.
The Eagles go into the match high in confidence following the win against Somerset at Taunton on Wednesday night, whilst the Hawks will be looking to bounce back following their 38-run defeat to Kent Spitfires at Canterbury.
Squads:
Hampshire Squad:
14. James Vince, 18. Lewis McManus, 87. Kyle Abbott, 21. D’Arcy Short, 9. Tom Alsop, 5. Joe Weatherley, 26. James Fuller, 58. Brad Wheal, 8. Liam Dawson, 17. Sam Northeast, 22. Ian Holland, 32. Mason Crane, 25. Chris Wood, 47. Ryan Stevenson, (-) Tom Prest.
The Coaches View:
Commenting on the Eagles win at Taunton, Head Coach Anthony McGrath reflected: “It was an incredible fightback.
“Somerset were 57 for 0 after 3 overs at the start of a new competition so that was not ideal for us. There have been a number of 200+ scores at Taunton over the years and this looked to be heading that way. But Sam [Cook] and Jamie [Porter] bowled the next three overs and between them reigned it back in.
“Two of our overs in the Somerset innings went for 57 runs so you can see how well the lads bowled in the remainder.
“We thought their score was about par and, of course, we successfully chased it down.”
Speaking about new signing Jimmy Neesham, who launched his Essex career with a match-winning innings, McGrath revealed: “Jimmy was disappointed with the last over that he bowled (21 runs came from it), and said he was going to make up for it.
“He certainly did that!
“After last season, we identified the all-rounder role that we were missing, somebody who could go in and set up or finish the innings in the 5 or 6 role.
“He’s done that countless times for New Zealand and he finished the game for us at Taunton.
“Now we have to focus on Hampshire. They will present a challenge because you only have to look at their line-up but it’s nice to be able to go into that match with points on the board.”
Injury/Absentees News:
Dan Lawrence continues to miss out and won’t feature in the beginning of the Vitality Blast campaign whilst on International duty with England.
Opposition:
Coach: Adi Birrell
Captain: James Vince
Last Year’s Performance: Bottom (South Group)
2020 Leading Runscorer: James Fuller (205 @ 34.16)
2020 Leading Wicket Taker: Mason Crane (9 @ 22)
Overseas players: D’Arcy Short (Australia)
Key man: James Vince – After helping Sydney Sixers win the Australian Big Bash, the Hawks skipper will be desperate to repeat that success on home soil.
Flies under the radar: Ian Holland – The American-born, Australian all-rounder has been in fine form with the bat in the LV= Insurance County Championship and is a decent but unheralded seam bowler.
Young Gun: Tom Prest – The hugely exciting 18-year-old batsman could be given the chance to transfer his prolific 2nd XI form – where he scored a triple century last month – to the Blast.
Blast expectations: After a bitterly disappointing 2020 season that produced just two wins from 10 matches and a last-placed group finish, the newly-rebranded Hawks will be confident of a much-improved campaign as they look to win a third Blast title. Big-hitting opener Short is expected to deliver runs at the top of the order and canny all-rounder de Grandhomme control and accuracy with the ball but misses out this match whilst with New Zealand. With Crane, Vince, Fuller and Liam Dawson in their ranks, they certainly have a balanced squad on paper this season.
Head-to-Head:
When the two teams met at Chelmsford last year, Hampshire won by 5 wickets with a ball to spare.
The Eagles posted 139-6 led by an unbeaten 37 from Ryan ten Doeschate and 36 by Cameron Delport.
Tom Alsop and George Munsey launched the visitors’ reply with a stand of 51. Munsey was dismissed for 32 and Alsop 29 before Joe Weatherley added 27 and when the final over arrived, just 6 runs were required. It was Ian Holland who got his side over the finishing line with a single off the penultimate ball of Matt Quinn’s over.
The two teams have met on 33 occasions in the competition with both recording 13 wins apiece. Three matches have ended in ties whilst four have been no results.
How To Watch:
There will be a Live Stream service from The Cloudfm County Ground, which will be broadcasting ahead of play from 6:30pm via the Essex Cricket TV YouTube channel and Essex Cricket Matchzone. Host Simon Ward will be joined by Graham Gooch for the return of our multi-camera production which also includes player stats, scorecards and clips.
Access via the Essex Cricket Matchzone is available here.
The latest Eagle to join the ranks has arrived ahead of this year’s Vitality Blast competition. Jimmy Neesham is now on UK soil and set for the tournament opener on Wednesday evening with a trip to The Cooper Associates County Ground where Somerset await.
The New Zealander has signed for the campaign and struck a half-century for the Second XI this week in preparation for the Blast.
He spoke exclusively to Essex Cricket TV ahead of his first match and is looking forward to pulling on the Eagles shirt for the first time this week.
Vitality Blast
The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Wednesday 09 June
6:30pm start
Essex Eagles commence the Vitality Blast campaign on Wednesday evening when they face Somerset at Taunton, with play commencing at 6:30pm.
The Eagles won the competition for the first time in 2019 but have since made several changes to their line-up with Cameron Delport and Adam Zampa not returning following last season’s campaign.
New Zealand international, Jimmy Neesham has linked up with the Eagles filling one of the two Overseas slots, and featured in Tuesday’s Second XI double-header against Hampshire, hitting a half-century.
The Eagles once again will be skippered by Simon Harmer, who occupies the second Overseas position after previously being registered as a Kolpak player.
Squad:
The Coaches View:
Head Coach Anthony McGrath is looking for improvements in the T20 game after a below-par performance last season.
“Although we won the T20 in 2019, the 20-over game remains a challenge for us,” Eagles Head Coach Anthony McGrath admitted.
“There’s no doubt that we can be successful as we showed two years ago but we need to show consistency in our performances. We haven’t hit those heights consistently.
“We want to solve that and want to get better, obviously. I think our home record has been poor in T20 and we want to address that too, so that is something that we need to target.”
Somerset Head Coach, Jason Kerr is also looking for improvement from his charges. Somerset have won only 10 of 24 group matches over the past two seasons, failing to reach Finals Day since 2018.
He stated: “We talk a lot about how much talent there is in the squad. That now has to come down to performance.
“T20 revolves around fine margins and we’ve challenged the guys to be clearer in their thinking and bolder when it comes to making those decisions out in the middle.
Young players need time because they are often inconsistent. We’ll keep backing them because of the potential they’ve got to win us games of cricket in the future.”
Injury/Absentees News:
Dan Lawrence will miss the beginning of the Vitality Blast campaign whilst on International duty with England.
Opposition:
Coach: Jason Kerr
Captain: Lewis Gregory
Last Year’s Performance: 4th (Central Group)
2020 Leading Runscorer: Tom Abell (227 @ 32.42)
2020 Leading Wicket Taker: Ollie Sale (13 @ 23.15)
Overseas players: Marchant de Lange (South Africa – whole tournament), Devon Conway (New Zealand – nine Group Stage games)
Key man: Lewis Gregory – Somerset’s T20 skipper is capable of blasting quick runs at the end of an innings and taking key wickets, both as an opening bowler and at the death.
Flies under the radar: Max Waller – Having developed into a specialist T20 bowler, the economical leg-spinner often opens the attack and can pin batsmen down with his variety of delivery and subtle changes of pace.
Young Gun: Tom Banton – The 22-year-old batsman’s vast array of punishing shots have already earned him nine T20 appearances for England and six one-day international appearances. Banton can also keep wicket as an alternative to Steve Davies.
Blast expectations: Director of cricket Andy Hurry and Head Coach Jason Kerr make no secret of expecting to win every competition their team enter. This season’s Blast is no exception. But Somerset have won only ten of 24 group matches over the past two seasons, failing to reach Finals Day since 2018, and will need a much greater degree of consistency to stand any chance of lifting the trophy.
Only Tom Abell and Babar Azam scored more than 200 runs in last season’s group stage and Somerset will be looking to some of their young guns in Tom Banton, Tom Lammonby, Lewis Goldsworthy and Will Smeed. Skipper Lewis Gregory and Craig Overton will be their pick of the bowlers, aided by Max Waller, while Roelof van der Merwe’s all-round skills, including those in the field, will again be important to their plans.
Head-to-Head:
The two sides haven’t met each other on too many occasions in the T20 format but Somerset were the victors last time round at Taunton with a comprehensive 10 wicket win.
Johann Myburgh was the difference thrashing an unbeaten 103 from just 44 balls. It included 3 sixes and 16 fours as he laid into the opposition attack, aidly supported by Tom Banton who was 29 not out when the winning line was reached.
How To Watch:
There will be a Live Stream service, courtesy of Somerset and this will be available via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, which also includes player stats, scorecards and clips throughout the day.
Access via the Essex Cricket Matchzone is available here.
Essex County Cricket Club can today confirm that Peter Siddle has returned to Australia for personal reasons and will miss the rest of the 2021 campaign.
The 36-year-old took 20 wickets in the LV= Insurance County Championship this year, with his best figures of 6/38 coming in the rain-affected draw with Warwickshire at Chelmsford last month.
The former Australia international recently became the 164th player to be awarded their Essex County Cap, and on his departure, he said: “I’m sad to be leaving Chelmsford early as I love playing for Essex.
“I’ve got some great friends in the dressing room and they’re a great bunch to be around and play cricket with. I’ve built some really strong bonds with the guys, so it’s upsetting that I have to go home, but hopefully in the future I can come back and play some more cricket for this great Club.
“I know I’m getting to the back end of my career, but I’ve still got some playing time left. We’ll see what happens in the coming months and in the build-up to the 2022 season, but fingers crossed there’s still a little bit more cricket to be played for Essex.”
Watch: Peter Siddle Departs
Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath also said: “Peter is a model professional so it’s obviously disappointing that we’re losing a player of his calibre.
“He’s a great figure in the dressing room and a leader on the field. He’s been amazing with the younger bowlers and has always offered support and advice, and when playing he’s contributed with some important wickets.
“He’s a fierce competitor and always gives it his all, but we wish him nothing but the best and hopefully we see him back at Chelmsford soon.”
Essex 2nd XI: Varun Chopra, Will Buttleman, Michael Pepper (wk), Josh Rymell, Jimmy Neesham, Feroze Khushi, Shane Snater, Aaron Beard, Aron Nijjar (c), Jamie Porter, Matt Quinn.
Hampshire 2nd XI:
Tom Prest, Toby Albert, FS Middleton, Joe Weatherley, James Fuller, Tom Scriven, Harry Broderick, George Metzger†, Ryan Stevenson, Mason Crane (c), Ajeet Dale
Match Details:
Umpires: C.M. Watts & P.H. Richardson Toss: Hampshire 2nd XI won and elected to bowl first Result: Essex 2nd XI won by 38 runs
Will Buttleman blasted an unbeaten century from 63-balls that included 4 sixes and 10 fours as Essex beat Hampshire by 38 runs in the first of two Second XI T20 matches with Hampshire at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Buttleman’s fireworks helped the home side to post a challenging total of 184 for 4 after being put into bat and when Hampshire replied, Aron Nijjar and Aaron Beard shared 6 wickets as the visitors were restricted to 146 for 8.
Opening the innings, Buttleman carried his bat for 102 during which he and the impressive Josh Rymell put on 133 for the third wicket having started their partnership with the home side 29 for 2.
The duo clubbed, carved and drove strongly on both sides of the wicket to flay the visitors attack. Their half-century stand arrived from 30 balls whilst the next 50 took a further 23 balls.
Buttleman’s personal half-century took 34 balls whilst Rymell needed only 30 balls to reach the milestone before the latter was eventually bowled for 58 in the penultimate mate over of the innings.
That saw the arrival of Overseas signing Jimmy Neesham but the New Zealander only scored 4 before he holed out to long-on.
Jamie Porter made early inroads into the visitors’ reply with two wickets in his first two overs with just 18 on the board before Toby Albert and Joe Weatherley took the score onto 85 before Nijjar struck twice in five deliveries to remove both batsmen who had each scored 40.
Beard who had started his spell conceding two sixes responded positively removing James Fuller and Tom Scriven with successive deliveries as Hampshire recoiled to 118 for 6 in the 16th over before Nijjar and Beard each added another victim.
Nijjar finished with figures of 3 for 17 from his 4 overs that included two stumpings for Buttleman, Beard returned 3 for 29 from 3 overs and Porter 2 for 11 from 3 overs.
Match Two
Team News:
Essex 2nd XI: Tom Westley, Adam Wheater (wk), Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Jimmy Neesham, Simon Harmer (c), Jack Plom, Aron Nijjar, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Hampshire 2nd XI:
Tom Prest, D’Arcy Short, Toby Albert, Tom Scriven, James Fuller, Fletcha Middleton, Scott Currie, Chris Wood (c), George Metzger (wk), John Turner, Kamran Khanna.
Match Details:
Umpires: C.M. Watts & P.H. Richardson Toss: Essex 2nd XI won and elected to bat first Result: Essex 2nd XI won by 66 runs
Jimmy Neesham and Michael Pepper both scored half-centuries as Essex beat Hampshire by 66 runs with the visitors reaching 121 all out in reply to the home side’s 187 for 8 under the lights at Chelmsford.
Neesham served notice of his potent threat with the bat reaching his fifty from only 24 balls courtesy of 9 boundaries that included 2 sixes whilst Pepper top-scored with 59 from 39 balls including three sixes and 4 other boundaries.
Although Tom Scriven and Tom Prest put on 74 for the third wicket to offer the visitors some hope, the dismissal of Prest who was bowled by Neesham for 39 effectively ended Hampshire’s interest.
Neesham and Pepper struck the ball powerfully and cleanly to ensure the run-rate was kept at an agreeable rate. The hundred came after 12.4 overs and it took only a further 4.4 overs to add a further fifty.
Pepper was had been dismissed in the 15th over when caught at deep extra cover to become a victim of pace bowler Scott Currie who took 4 for 42 but Pepper’s departure with the score on 115 for 5 paved the way for an exhilarating partnership between Neesham and Simon Harmer.
They raced to a 50 partnership in 23 balls with Neesham the main contributor with 38 of the runs.
The stand ended when Harmer was caught in the deep for 16.
Left-hander Neesham had arrived at his half-century when steering the ball to the cover boundary but his innings came to a close soon after when a mix-up with Aron Nijjar saw him run out.
Hampshire lost Australian international D’Arcy Short for a single to the third ball of their innings when Aron Nijjar took a return catch before Jamie Porter struck eleven balls later to leave the South Coast county 12 for 2.
Scriven and Prest provided resistance but five wickets went down for 18 runs 5.3 overs starting with the fall of Scriven was bowled by Nijjar for 41.
Currie made 19 until skying a catch to Adam Wheater off a leading edge against Jack Plom and the last two wickets quickly followed as Hampshire were bowled out in 18.1 overs.
All seven Essex bowlers used (Porter, Sam Cook, Harmer, Neesham, Plom, Nijjar and Paul Walter) were amongst the wickets with the most successful being Cook and Nijjar with 2 for 16 and 2 for 32, respectively.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have announced the England Women Central Contracts for 2021-22. Essex Women’s, Mady Villiers is included in the list after becoming an important member of the white-ball team.
Seventeen contracts have been awarded, with Sophia Dunkley receiving her first Central Contract.
The contracts run from May 1, 2021 to October 31, 2022 in order to align with the professional contracts at the eight Regional teams.
Tammy Beaumont (Lightning)
Katherine Brunt (Northern Diamonds)
Kate Cross (Thunder)
Freya Davies (South East Stars)
Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars)
Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder)
Georgia Elwiss (Southern Vipers)
Sarah Glenn (Central Sparks)
Katie George (Western Storm)
Heather Knight (Western Storm)
Amy Jones (Central Sparks)
Nat Sciver (Northern Diamonds)
Anya Shrubsole (Western Storm) Mady Villiers (Sunrisers)
Fran Wilson (Sunrisers)
Lauren Winfield-Hill (Northern Diamonds)
Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Jonathan Finch, Director of England Women’s Cricket, said: “We’re pleased to confirm a strong group of Centrally Contracted England Women’s cricketers ahead of a really exciting two years for Lisa, Heather and the team.
“The Central Contracts, along with the roll out of professional women’s domestic contracts, provide a fantastic opportunity to develop a larger pool of players pushing for selection and help strive for success on the field for England Women.
“We’ve continued to work closely with the England Women’s Player Partnership (EWPP) and the PCA to establish a comprehensive and objective process that underpins the awarding of Central Contracts. We will keep working in collaboration for the benefit of the players as we continue to grow and develop the professional women’s game.”
The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford, Thursday 03 – Sunday 06 June
Team News:
Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Sam Cook, Shane Snater.
Nottinghamshire:Ben Slater, Ben Compton, Ben Duckett, Joe Clarke, Lyndon James, Steven Mullaney (c), Tom Moores (wk), Liam Patterson-White, Luke Fletcher, Dane Paterson, Brett Hutton.
Match Details:
Umpires: Ian Blackwell & Neil Mallender Toss: Nottinghamshire won and elected to bat first Result: Match Drawn
Day Four Match Highlights:
Day Four Reaction: Shane Snater
Day Four Match Report:
Essex drew their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Nottinghamshire with the visitors reaching 44-2 before bad light at 2:23pm followed by rain brought a halt to proceedings. With conditions failing to improve, the Captains settled for the draw with the game called off at 3:05pm.
Hopes of a positive outcome to the match were, in truth, badly affected by the loss of the entire second day’s play and when play resumed on the final morning, the home side had reached 180-7 in their first innings in reply to Notts 293 all out.
Needing a rapid flurry of runs and then quick wickets if they were to have the opportunity of pulling off a shock win, Essex added 30 runs in 10 overs before being bowled out.
The second new ball was taken after just one over but a boundary soon after by Shane Snater extended the 8th wicket partnership with Simon Harmer to 50 runs. It had spanned 143 deliveries but having carried Essex to within seven runs of their first batting point, both batsmen were removed in the space of seven balls.
Snater had posted 24 when he was trapped in front by pace bowler Ben Hutton and then fellow new-ball bowler Luke Fletcher had Harmer leg before for 20.
It was left to last man Sam Cook to take the total onto 200 – and a batting point – when he steered a delivery from Hutton past mid-wicket and to the boundary but the bowler was to have the last word when Cook was castled to complete a 5-wickets haul. Cook had scored 6 leaving Peter Siddle unbeaten on 11.
The visitors started their second innings with two sessions and an hour remaining for play and there was encouragement for Essex when Siddle struck in the seventh over with the total on 11 to have Ben Compton caught at first slip by Alastair Cook for eight.
But Ben Slater and Ben Duckett dug in to keep the scoreboard ticking over at a sedate tempo reaching lunch on 23-1 after 15 overs.
Having taken 7/98 at Trent Bridge and 2/45 in the first innings of this match, Snater grabbed his 10th wicket against these opponents when Duckett was bowled for 16 in the seventh over of the afternoon session with the total on 35.
But nine runs and six overs later with Slater on 19 and Joe Clarke on 1, the weather closed in to bring a premature end to the game.
Essex take 11 points from the match and Nottinghamshire 13 points.
The top four teams in Group One are separated by just 9 points. Warwickshire have 120 points, two more than Essex whilst Nottinghamshire with 115 points and Durham with 111 and the four teams are all in contention for a top-two finish to the group round of matches that would take them into Division One and the opportunity to challenge for the County Championship title.
Essex though have only one more match to play in the qualifying round, against Derbyshire at Chesterfield starting on July 11th, whilst their three chief rivals all have two matches remaining.
Day Three Match Highlights:
Day Three Reaction: Anthony McGrath
Day Three Match Report:
Despite a fighting knock of 71 from captain Tom Westley, Essex failed to deny Nottinghamshire ending the third day of the County Championship battle at The Cloudfm County Ground in the ascendancy.
Replying to a total of 293, the county reached the close on 180 for 7 as the remainder of their batsmen failed to make an impact.
After resuming on 248 for 6, Notts lost their remaining wickets for the addition of 45 runs, all of them falling to off-spinner Simon Harmer who returned figures of 4-71.
His first, that of Joe Clarke who was superbly caught by a diving Shane Snater at wide mid-on for 67, ended a run of just over 73 overs without success since his 12 wickets match haul against Derbyshire in mid-May.
He then breached the defence of Liam Patterson-White for 31 before removing Luke Fletcher and Brett Hutton. The former was caught at deep mid-wicket by Paul Walter without score whilst Hutton was trapped in the crease for 10 to give the bowler, who joined the county in 2017, his 250th Championship wicket.
But any hopes that Essex may have entertained on launching their reply on a firm footing quickly evaporated.
In seven overs before lunch, they lost three wickets for a mere 15 runs.
Hutton got rid of Nick Browne and Alastair Cook in the space of five deliveries. Browne had scored 6 when he nicked behind the wicket to give Tom Moores the first of his three catches and in his next over, the paceman found the edge when Cook went to drive departing for 5 to leave the home side 14 for 2.
Fletcher then removed Michael Pepper for a duck when the batsman was superbly caught by the wicket-keeper diving to his right to hold a one-handed catch low down.
Some semblance of sanity was restored by Westley and Walter who grafted through 26 overs while adding 55 runs. Walter though was dismissed in the 20’s for the fourth successive time in as many innings. On this occasion, he had reached 21 when bowled by Patterson-White, the ball hitting off-stump.
Ryan ten Doeschate joined Westley to take the total into three figures but having carried the score onto 108 with a 38 runs partnership, ten Doeschate was caught at first slip by Clarke for 14 to become Hutton’s third success and leave the innings in trouble once again at 108 for 5.
The rock-solid Westley was holding the innings together and completed his half-century from 124 deliveries that included five fours. But his resistance spanning 174 deliveries and almost four hours was finally ended when he was bowled for 71, which included eight boundaries, by the spin of Patterson-White.
His departure left Essex 143 for 6 and another wicket followed the next ball when Adam Wheater, who had scored 10, swung Lyndon James out to deep square leg where Ben Compton completed the catch.
Harmer and Shane Snater battled through the remaining 19 overs, firstly ensuring the follow-on was averted and then taking their side to within 20 runs of a batting point by the close. Harmer will resume on 15 and Snater on 17 when play restarts tomorrow with the second new ball due after a further over.
Day Two Match Report:
No play was possible on day two of Essex and Nottinghamshire’s crucial LV= Insurance County Championship fixture at The Cloudfm County Ground due to rain.
Large puddles developed throughout the morning and early afternoon of heavy rain at the River End of the ground.
Umpires Ian Blackwell and Neil Mallender eventually called off the day just before 4pm.
Nottinghamshire had set up the game nicely on a balanced day one, with Joe Clarke, Lyndon James and Joe Clarke all scoring half-centuries as the visitors reached 248 for 6.
Day One Match Highlights:
Day One Reaction: Tom Westley
Day One Match Report:
On a day packed with incident, Nottinghamshire ended the opening day of the LV= Insurance County Championship match against Nottinghamshire on 248 for 6.
The visitors won the toss but during the first hour, the county claimed three wickets for 48 and soon afterwards, Joe Clarke had to retire hurt after being struck on the forearm by a Sam Cook delivery.
He had scored 11 out of 54 for 3 but his removal from the scene only made way for Lyndon James and Steven Mullaney to again put together a telling partnership.
At Trent Bridge last month, they combined to post a stand of 123 and on this occasions, added 117 in 52 overs.
But Essex helped the batsmen’s cause as Mullaney survived a difficult chance to Alastair Cook when he had scored 4 and then enjoyed another “life” two runs later when put down in the covers by Nick Browne.
Mullaney needed 62 deliveries to move into double figures but later scored more freely in completing his half-century from 135 balls with one six and six fours.
Medium-pacer Paul Walter fell foul of umpires Ian Blackwell and Neil Mallender when ordered out of the attack after sending down two beamers in his opening four overs.
Mullaney and James though continued unconcerned completing their 100 partnership from 255 balls.
Both were to progress to record individual half-centuries and duly completed in the same Cook over. James was first to the milestone having faced 145 balls and collected 9 boundaries whilst skipper Mullaney had faced 135 deliveries with 10 fours.
The latter was eventually sent packing by Shane Snater for 55 just after James had been claimed for 54 by Peter Siddle. Both were victims of smart slip catches by Alastair Cook.
Following the dismissal of Mullaney, Clarke returned to continue his innings and soon underlined his recovery from his morning setback by driving with confidence and power on his way to completing a highly entertaining 50 from 78 balls, ten of which were despatched to the boundary.
The second new ball was taken at 190 for 5 but with the last ball of that over, Cook bowled Tom Moores for 12.
Clarke though was in imposing form and he and Liam Patterson-White comfortably carried the visitors to the close having posted an unbeaten 58 for the seventh wicket.
Clarke will resume in the morning with 57 runs to his credit whilst Paterson-White is 17 not out.
Siddle and Snater had both inflicted the early damage. The Australian fast bowler had Ben Compton taken by Alastair Cook at first slip for 11 before trapping Ben Duckett lbw for 2 in his next over.
Snater gained the umpire’s consent for a leg before shout against Ben Slater who had scored 25 to leave Nottinghamshire 48 for 3.
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