Vitality Blast
The Cloudfm County Ground
Thursday 27 August
2pm start
Title-holders, Essex Eagles begin the defence of the Vitality Blast when they meet Middlesex in the first of 10 South Group matches at The Cloudfm County Ground, starting on Thursday at 2pm.
The Vitality Blast has been regionalised into the same three groups used in the Bob Willis Trophy with each side set to play 10 group-stage matches behind-closed-doors.
The Eagles won the title last year beating defending Champions Worcestershire Rapids in the Final at Edgbaston and it was skipper Simon Harmer who played a defining role.
The South African, who took over the captaincy of the T20 team from Ryan ten Doeschate at the start of last season, proved an inspiring choice as he led the Eagles to their first-ever T20 title. Fittingly, it was the 31-year-old who attracted the headlines on Finals Day when he took 4/19 in the Semi-Final against Derbyshire Falcons and then 3/16 and an unbeaten 18, including the winning runs, in the Final.
Head Coach’s View:
Head Coach, Anthony McGrath admitted that the players are looking forward to the competition.
“I think everyone is looking forward to defending the title,” he said. “It was a bit of a unique way in which we won it last year, we left it late, some people say we were lucky, others say it was good timing,” he stated with a smile on his face.
“But it was a great year for the Club last year with the Championship and the T20 triumphs but we all know that we need to start better in the T20 this year. We can’t leave it as late as we did last time around as the nerves won’t stand it!
“We got on a bit of a run, got into the right mindset and the players really started to believe that we could win the competition.
“We’ve got Cameron Delport back with us and he’s a huge plus to our line-up but there are going to be opportunities for players because there are no Overseas players available so we can expect to see guys making their debuts in this form of cricket.
“It’s a great opportunity for players to make their mark on this form of the game and assist Essex towards winning matches.”
Simon Harmer Previews Vitality Blast:
Squad News:
The Eagles had signed all-rounder Moises Henriques and leg-spinner Adam Zampa as the Overseas players to play in the competition but those arrangements were scuppered by the COVID-19 travel restrictions and the two players contracts were cancelled by mutual consent.
However, South African born Cameron Delport does return for his second season at Chelmsford having made a huge impression last year. The big-hitting all-rounder scored 409 runs at an average of 29.21, including a stunning 129 from 49 balls in the victory over Surrey and 55 in the Semi-Final.
The Opposition:
Former Essex crowd favourite Stuart Law is now Middlesex Head Coach and takes a pragmatic approach to those complaining about the lack of practice ahead of the competition.
“People say we haven’t had any preparation but we have been playing cricket and cricket is the same, it’s just that the tempo will be different, so we’ll be looking forward to the challenge.”
Middlesex Squad:
Steven Finn (C), Martin Andersson, Joe Cracknell, Miguel Cummins, Jack Davies, Stephen Eskinazi, Nick Gubbins, James Harris, Tom Helm, Max Holden, Luke Hollman, Dan Lincoln, John Simpson (WK), Nathan Sowter.
Injuries/Absentees:
Toby Roland-Jones (thigh strain), Eoin Morgan (England duty).
Record Between The Sides:
Essex and Middlesex have clashed on 28 occasions in T20 cricket with the Eagles shading bragging rights with 15 wins.
When the two teams met last year, Middlesex won the fixture at Lord’s by 7 wickets with AB de Villiers hitting a chanceless 88 from 43 balls to ease his side to victory by 7 wickets with 3 overs to spare.
They reached 166-3 in reply to their opponents 164-6 that included 74 not out by Ryan ten Doeschate and 40 by Tom Westley.
The reverse clash at The Cloudfm County Ground was abandoned without a ball bowled due to rain.
Watch the Match:
You can watch the opening match in the Vitality Blast on Thursday from 2pm. Our new and improved multi-camera production is free to view and available via the Essex Cricket Matchzone – here.
The build-up to the 2020 Vitality Blast competition is well underway with the Eagles returning the T20 action on Thursday against Middlesex at The Cloudfm County Ground.
You can relive the 2019 Vitality Blast Final on Wednesday evening via our YouTube and Facebook channels. Watch the drama and celebrations at Edgbaston once again from 6pm and get in the mood for this year’s title defence!
Essex Eagles’ 2020 Vitality Blast campaign is available to watch via the Essex Cricket Matchzone, starting with the visit of Middlesex on Thursday 27 August.
Play begins at 2pm and includes our new multi-camera production with interviews and analysis throughout the game.
Essex Cricket are pleased to welcome chartered accountants, MHA MacIntyre Hudson as a new partner.
MHA MacIntrye Hudson have signed a two-year agreement and will become the principal sponsor of the annual Lord’s Long Room Christmas Lunch, which will take place in December.
Essex Cricket Commercial Sales Executive, Greg Larkin, said: “We are delighted to welcome MHA MacIntyre Hudson as a partner at Essex Cricket, especially as their Chelmsford office is located opposite The Cloudfm County Ground.
“We are looking forward to working with Cara and the team at MHA MacIntyre Hudson over the next two years and to hosting our Lord’s Long Room Christmas Lunch as soon as we can safely do so. In the meantime, we really appreciate their support during these uncertain times.”
MHA MacIntyre Hudson Partner, Cara Miller, said: “People are at the heart of what we do, we are passionate about serving our local community and supporting our local cricket team is just one of the many ways we set out to achieve this. We are thrilled to be working with the Club and wish the Essex team lots of luck and success.”
About MHA MacIntyre Hudson:
As a firm of chartered accountants, tax and business advisers, MHA MacIntyre Hudson work in partnership with clients ranging from entrepreneurs and individuals to multi-national corporations.
A second successive away fixture in the Bob Willis Trophy sees the team return to Sussex, however this time to face Hampshire at Arundel Castle Cricket Ground.
The picturesque outground is being used by Hampshire whilst the Third Test takes place at the Ageas Bowl. provides some stunning photography and although the rain has caused havoc on the south coast, Essex will still be hunting for vital bonus points at the very least.
View the photo gallery courtesy of the Club’s official photographer, Nick Wood to bring you closer to the play against Hampshire.
Scroll through the images and hit the i for further information.
Our matchdays this season will be behind-closed-doors but Members and supporters can still be part of the action at The Cloudfm County Ground via the Essex Cricket Matchzone across all home and away fixtures.
Commentary will be brought to you by BBC Essex across the four days, alongside replays of the action and statistics.
We must stress that our games in 2020 are behind-closed-doors and spectators are not currently able to watch these games live in person at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Visit the Essex Cricket Matchzone now to enjoy live coverage of the game which is free to Members and supporters.
Arundel Castle Cricket Ground, Saturday 22 – Tuesday 25 August
Team News:
Essex: Paul Walter, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Feroze Khushi, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Aaron Beard, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter
Hampshire: Sam Northeast (c), Joe Weatherley, Ian Holland, Tom Alsop, Harry Came, Felix Organ, Lewis McManus (wk), James Fuller, Ryan Stevenson, Mason Crane, Brad Wheal
Match Details:
Umpires: Ian Gould & Billy Taylor Match Referee: Stephen Davis Toss: Hampshire, who elected to field first Result:
Day Four Close of Play Report:
Essex were left exasperated after poor weather restricted their Bob Willis Trophy clash with Hampshire at Arundel to just 78 overs.
Play was entirely washed out on the first and final days whilst only 47 overs were possible on the second day and 31 the day after.
In that time, Essex had batted soundly to lay the platform for a potential maximum haul of 5 batting points having reached 249-3 at Lunch on Day Three but there was to be no further action in the match thereafter.
Although overnight and morning rain fell on the already sodden outfield, there were lingering hopes that Essex might be able to resume an innings that had been interrupted with Alastair Cook unbeaten on 129 and Dan Lawrence on 37 not out.
Umpires Ian Gould and Billy Taylor looked at conditions at 2pm but soon decided that a restart was impossible.
Hampshire had won the toss but the decision to put their opponents into bat on a slow flat pitch looked questionable as openers Cook and Paul Walter posted the County’s highest opening partnership of the season with 83 before they were parted.
Walter, who had impressed in his two matches in the competition when batting in the middle-order was promoted up the order to replace Nick Browne and looked accomplished and comfortable in the role
hitting 43 before being dismissed.
Tom Westley contributed 18 in a stand of 61 with Cook and had just begun to look in menacing form when he edged leg-spinner Mason Crane behind the wicket.
Jamie Porter frustrated the Hampshire bowlers for more than an hour for 8 in his role as nightwatchman and when he departed, Dan Lawrence joined Cook. The 23-year-old looked in imperious form timing the ball superbly from the moment he arrived at the crease to join the imposing figure of Cook in an unbroken partnership worth 78 before the weather spoiled a burgeoning partnership.
Cook offered another exhibition of the quality strokeplay with a number of unfettered drives and playing the ball superbly off his legs that saw him to his 23rd first-class century for Essex and 66th in all first-class cricket and by the enforced conclusion of a truncated match, he had reached 24,000 first-class career runs.
Essex were left with 9 points and although they head the South Group with 70 points, other group leaders Somerset and Derbyshire have 76 and 71 points respectively.
All three teams having just one match to play, and with only two of the three group winners qualifying for the Final, it all adds up to a tense situation for Essex when they meet Middlesex in the final group match at The Cloudfm County Ground starting on 6th September.
Day Three Highlights:
Alastair Cook’s Day Three reaction:
Day Three Close of Play Report:
Alastair Cook struck a sublime unbeaten 129 before torrential rain during the Lunch interval ended play for the day with Essex 249-3 in their Bob Willis match with Hampshire at Arundel.
Thus far, only 78 overs have been possible in the three days of this encounter although the Essex opener has prospered in that time.
He reached his 23rd century for the County, and his first since May last year, having faced 180 balls that included 11 boundaries.
He played in trademark fashion with vigilance punctuated by a series of superbly timed strokes including a number of off-drives that raced to the boundary.
The unflappable left-hander has now recorded an incredible 66 first-class centuries and his insatiable appetite for runs was well evidenced here as he gathered runs seemingly at will. During the course of his innings, he took his overall tally of first-class runs beyond 24,000 and he now has the highest aggregate of runs in the world by anyone currently playing first-class cricket.
Frustratingly for Essex, when the rain swept across the Arundel Castle venue, they were on course for a major haul of batting points after only accruing 4 from their previous three matches although, of course, all three matches had ended in Essex victories.
The visitors had resumed on 146-2 when play started on time this morning and in bright sunlight, Cook and Jamie Porter accrued a further 25 runs before Ryan Stevenson had the nightwatchman pinned in the crease for 8 as he attempted to turn the ball into the leg side.
That dismissal brought Dan Lawrence to the crease and he immediately showed a confident approach. He and Cook took Essex to their first batting point before Lawrence collected boundaries off leg spinner Mason Crane including the first maximum of the match.
Their entertaining half-century partnership arrived after 46 minutes and 74 balls and the pair continued to keep the fielders on their toes.
Lawrence was 37 not out and Essex within one run of a second batting point when firstly Lunch arrived before their further progress was halted by a downturn in the weather.
Although the weather markedly improved with the ground bathed in sunshine by the scheduled Tea interval, the damage had been done.
Two further inspections followed before play was officially called off for the day at 5:30pm
Day Two Highlights:
Tom Westley’s Day Two reaction:
Day Two Close of Play Report:
Alastair Cook struck a sublime half-century as Essex reached the close of the second day on 146-2 in their Bob Willis Trophy meeting at Arundel with Hampshire.
Cook combined admirable defensive technique with a fluent array of drives and will resume tomorrow on 75 not out accompanied by nightwatchman Jamie Porter who has still to get off the mark.
Cook was involved in two half-century stands, the first with new partner Paul Walter of 83 and then 61 with Tom Westley who was dismissed for 18 just before the close.
After the total washout of the opening day, play commenced on time and Essex, who were put into bat made an excellent start. Both openers played responsibly on a wicket that proved to be slow and flat and the half-century partnership arrived after 97 deliveries with Walter having contributed half of those runs and his partner 16.
By now, they had composed the highest first-wicket partnership this season for the side as they moved along in a serene and effective manner.
The total had advanced to 83 when heavy rain drove the players off for an early Lunch after 23 overs had been bowled.
Walter, who has been a model of consistency this season since he was introduced into the side in the middle order, was just 7 runs short of a maiden half-century against County opposition at this stage.
Further showers though prevented his immediate progress and any play in the afternoon before a resumption was made at 5pm with 24 overs to be bowled.
In the best weather of the match so far, the openers returned but with the third delivery after the resumption, their stand came to an end when Walter edged a delivery from Ian Holland that moved away from the left-hander who was caught at first slip without addition to his score.
It took Westley 8 balls to get off the mark collecting 3 runs off Brad Wheal before the Essex Captain produced a subline cover drive in the next over that raced to the boundary despite the damp outfield.
Cook also found the ropes soon after when facing Wheal and the opener then brought up the 100 in the 31st over with another boundary against the same bowler.
His half-century arrived with a couple of runs backward of square after leg-break bowler Mason Crane had been introduced into the attack.
Cook, who has 22 hundreds and now 46 half-centuries in first-class matches for Essex celebrated the latest milestone picking up two boundaries in the same James Fuller over.
Westley was beginning to play positively but with his score on 18, the total on 144 and with 2 overs remaining he pushed forward against the leg-spin of Crane and edged a catch to the wicket-keeper.
Anthony McGrath’s Day One reaction:
Day One Close of Play Report:
Not a ball was bowled at Arundel where Hampshire and Essex are meeting in the Bob Willis Trophy.
To the frustration of all concerned, the series of inspections carried out by umpires proved to no avail in the attempt to get the match underway.
The umpires decided on an 11:30am inspection following morning rain but that inspection was halted by a heavy shower that worsened conditions.
An early Lunch was taken before two inspections in the afternoon, both of which proved fruitless before an early Tea was called.
The next inspection at 4pm brought the ‘no play today’ decision.
The problems concern the wet outfield and the damp run-ups for the bowlers.
Neither team has named a starting line-up and the toss has not yet been made.
Bob Willis Trophy
Arundel Castle Cricket Ground
Saturday 22 – Tuesday 25 August
11am start
Essex return to Sussex for their next match in the Bob Willis Trophy competition but this time they face Hampshire at picturesque Arundel Castle Cricket Ground, starting on Saturday.
Hampshire has traversed county borders away from their Ageas Bowl home because of the Test match currently being staged, and with no suitable outgrounds in their own county, they have decamped to play all their home fixtures at Arundel.
Essex completed their third win as many matches in the Bob Willis Trophy when they beat Sussex by three wickets at Hove earlier this week to maintain a 100% win record in the competition.
Head Coach’s View:
Anthony McGrath praised the batting performance in the second innings at Hove. “As the run-rate had been below 3 an over in the previous three innings, I thought it was a great run-chase really,” he stated.
“That win puts us in a nice position although we do need to address the low batting points. We certainly do have to bat better than we have been doing.
“It’s just a matter of someone going on and getting a big score; a lot of batsmen have played themselves in without cashing in and that’s frustrating and we’ve lost a few soft wickets really over the three games.
“I’ve said throughout all three games that I do think we could have batted better it’s hard to complain when you get three wins.”
Aaron Beard Ready For Hampshire Test:
Squad News:
Essex have no injuries worries ahead of the trip to Arundel although they are likely to continue rotating the squad ahead of the intriguing clash between the South Group’s top two teams with Nick Browne rested.
Young batmsan, Rishi Patel is also not available following his loan move the Leicestershire for their remaining Bob Willis Trophy matches.
21 Tom Westley (C)
65 Ben Allison
14 Aaron Beard
6 Varun Chopra
26 Alastair Cook
16 Sam Cook
11 Simon Harmer
23 Feroze Khushi
28 Dan Lawrence
44 Jamie Porter
94 Matt Quinn
27 Ryan ten Doeschate
22 Paul Walter
31 Adam Wheater (WK)
The Opposition:
James Fuller became the first bowler to take a hat-trick in the Bob Willis Trophy when assisting his side to a sensational innings victory over Surrey.
The fast bowler took 4-17 and dismissed Laurie Evans, Gus Atkinson, and Morne Morkel with consecutive deliveries to record Hampshire’s first hat-trick since Kyle Abbott against Worcestershire two years ago.
The feat came as Hampshire bowled Surrey out for 74 in a rain-affected game to win by an innings and 52 runs at Arundel.
Reflecting on the win, Fuller said, “It was an unbelievable win. Credit to all the players, we had faith that we could force a result. We are still kicking ourselves after not beating Sussex, but we won at Radlett (against Middlesex) but we have the belief that we can win from any position.”
Looking ahead to Saturday’s clash, Fuller said: “It’s such a short competition, anything can happen. If we keep our heads down and keep believing we’ve got a great chance.
Hampshire Squad:
17 Sam Northeast (C), 58 Brad Wheal, 9 Tom Alsop, 22 Ian Holland, 26 James Fuller, 18 Lewis McManus (WK), 33 Tom Scriven, 3 Felix Organ, 4 Harry Came, 39 Ajeet Dale, 5 Joe Weatherley, 32 Mason Crane, 47 Ryan Stevenson.
Injury/Absentees News:
James Vince – unavailable as a precautionary measure until after the impending birth of his second child.
Keith Barker and Liam Dawson – miss out due to injury sidelined due to injury.
Last Meeting:
After the opening encounter of the season, only the most optimistic Essex follower could have imagined that their favourites would go on to lift the County Championship title for the second time in three years.
Essex were left licking their wounds following defeat by an innings and 87 runs at Southampton. Hampshire rattled up 525 for eight declared having been put into bat with Sam Northeast hitting 169.
In reply, Alastair Cook was the main contributor with 50 out of the visitors 164. They did a little better second time around thanks to 107 from Ravi Bopara and 62 from Simon Harmer who added 111 for the 6th wicket before Essex were dismissed for 274.
However, that nightmare became a fading memory when Essex turned the tables on their opponents in the return fixture at Chelmsford in the middle of June. Five wickets from Simon Harmer in the first innings saw Hampshire skittled for 118 and although though Essex could only manage a first-innings lead of 96 thanks to half-centuries from Bopara and Dan Lawrence, that was sufficient to afford them victory by an innings and eight runs.
Once again It was the master magician Harmer who had too many tricks for the visiting batsman as he returned 7 for 38.
Opener Joe Weatherley carried his bat for 29 but the rest of his colleagues showed little application and they were dismissed for a miserable 88. The match, that ended 15 minutes before tea on day 2, produce just a total of 420 runs.
That success heralded the start of a six-match winning run allowing Essex to close the closed to the gap on one-time runaway leaders Somerset before subsequently lifting the title to crown an amazing season.
How To Watch:
Our Live Stream service will be available across all four days of this game from 11am, which also includes player stats, scorecard and clips throughout the day. Access via the Essex Cricket Matchzone which is available – here.
Essex County Cricket Club can today announce that Rishi Patel is set to join Leicestershire on loan for the remainder of their Bob Willis Trophy campaign.
The 22-year-old will join up with his new teammates immediately and will be available for the Foxes’ next red-ball fixture against Nottinghamshire, which begins on Saturday 22 August.
The batsman broke into the Essex side last year, making his first-class debut at The Kia Oval against Surrey. He went on to make 6 appearances in the 2019 season, averaging 18.25 as Anthony McGrath’s side claimed a second title in three seasons.
Ahead of his loan move, Patel said: “I’m very excited to be allowed to come on loan to Leicestershire.
“I would like to thank Essex for agreeing to the loan. Hopefully it will be a great opportunity to get some game time and score some runs to help Leicestershire.”
Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath added: “Rishi is a very promising young batsman who has found First Team opportunities hard to come by this year.
“We’re lucky at Essex to have an extremely talented squad and this loan move will give him the chance to play some cricket and get some runs on the board at the highest level, which I have no doubt he will do.”
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