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The Essex Eagles make the short journey to The Kia Oval on Thursday to face Surrey in their penultimate Vitality Blast South Group match of the season.

Following the tied match with Hampshire at Southampton on Sunday, the Eagles need to win both their remaining two matches in the qualifying stages whilst also being reliant on favourable results from elsewhere if they are to reach the quarter-finals.

The Eagles have won 8 of the 13 T20 clashes played at the venue although Surrey have claimed bragging rights in the two most recent matches between the teams at their Kennington base.

Eagles supporters will fondly recall the meeting at Chelmsford earlier this season when, after rain reduced the match to 15 overs per side, Cameron Delport launched an incredible salvo of 14 sixes and 7 fours in an innings of 129 that spanned just 49 balls.

Together with Dan Lawrence, who scored an unbeaten 58 from 22 balls, 135 runs were added in just 7 overs for the fourth wicket as Simon Harmer’s side posted a mammoth total of 226-4. It was an effort that Surrey never threatened to mirror as they finished on 174-7.

Harmer admitted that the T20 campaign has not panned out the way he wanted, saying: “Although things haven’t gone the way we would have liked, we won’t give up on this season’s T20 until it’s mathematically impossible to qualify for the next stage.

“Sunday’s result was a setback. It was disappointing and it’s easy to look back at a game like that when there is only 1 run in it and nit-pick at one or a million different things that could have saved a run.

“There were a lot of areas where we could have been better and going forward, we need to be better as a team to close games out. Especially from the position we were in with just three overs to go, the game should have been signed, sealed and delivered before that final over even started.

“We also dropped two catches in one over and had we held those it would have killed the game. We have to learn from the mistakes, so although it is easy at the moment to look at the negatives, we just need to be that bit better.

“But as a team moving forward, we are a work in progress and there are a lot of positives to build on.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Surrey:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Essex batsman Varun Chopra scored a huge 267 at Billericay on Monday, as the Essex Second XI ended Day One of their four-day friendly against Kent on 521-4.

Chopra, who signed a new one-year contract with Essex last week, batted for 325 minutes and hit 34 fours as well as 9 maximums.

The 32-year-old was joined at the crease by Feroze Khushi with the score on 104-2, and the pair put on a third-wicket partnership worth 347, with Khushi ending the day unbeaten on 158 in an innings that included 17 boundaries.

Chopra was finally removed after being caught by Adam Rouse off the bowling of Jan Gray with Essex 451-3.

Day Two resumes at 11am and you can follow the live updates from our Match Zone by clicking here.

Hampshire v Essex Eagles
Vitality Blast
Sunday 25 August
The Ageas Bowl, Southampton

Hampshire Team: Rilee Rossouw, James Vince (c), Sam Northeast, Liam Dawson, Chris Morris, James Fuller, Lewis McManus (wk), Ian Holland, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kyle Abbott, Chris Wood

Essex Eagles Team: Cameron Delport, Tom Westley, Adam Wheater (wk), Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer (c), Mohammad Amir, Aaron Beard, Adam Zampa

Umpires: Ian Gould and Billy Taylor

Toss: Hampshire won the toss and elected to bowl first

Result: Match Tied

Match Reaction: Simon Harmer

Match Report

The Eagles’ Vitality Blast match with Hampshire ended as a tie after the home side scored 41 runs from their final three overs to level the scores.

Another superb effort by Dan Lawrence, who scored 69, left Essex defending a total of 139 for 7 but after 17 overs of their reply their opponents had reached 98 for 4 and the Eagles seemingly set for victory.

However, Sam Northeast, who had batted steadily to complete a 46-ball half-century, then upped the tempo to organise a thrilling finale.

James Fuller struck a quickfire 17 to support Northeast before he was run out by Lawrence from deep mid-wicket in the 18th over that realised 10 runs, but the crucial over proved to be the next.

Aaron Beard was adjudged to have sent down three wides in his first five deliveries in the over and his frustration was compounded when three of the final four legitimate balls were sent by Northeast to the boundary ropes.

That left the home side 129 for 5 and facing Mohammad Amir for the final over of the game. The Pakistan quickie was also called for two wides either side of another boundary by Northeast and the target became 3 runs from two balls.

Lewis McManus collected a single from the first to leave Northeast with the strike. The batsman struck the ball firmly to Adam Zampa in the leg side and ran the first before setting off for a failed attempted second as the fielder executed a comfortable run out to dismiss Northeast for 73.

It left the two teams with their second tied match in as any seasons.

The Eagles had been into bat and lost Tom Westley to the first ball of the game when he was lbw to Chris Wood. Seven balls later, Cameron Delport edged Kyle Abbott behind but Lawrence joined Adam Wheater to revive the visitors fortunes with a well-composed third wicket stand worth 83 in 11 overs.

Both kept the scoreboard ticking along with their 50 partnership spanning 43 balls. They played responsibly eschewing possible demise with authentic cricket strokes before Wheater departed for 34, one of only three Eagles batsmen to post double figures.

Ryan ten Doeschate went with the score on 95 but Ravi Bopara joined Lawrence to add 29 before Lawrence’s excellent effort worth 69 in 47 balls, and including 1 six and 8 fours, ended when he swung Tabraiz Shamsi to backward point.

Lawrence had completed his 4th half-century of the season in the competition this summer and 13 in all competitions this season whilst he is now the Eagles highest run-getter in this T20 campaign with 302 runs.

His departure left the Eagles 124 for 5 in the 17th over and they managed just 2 more runs in the next during which they lost two more wickets including Bopara for 14 when he missed an attempted scoop against Abbott and was bowled.

Abbott sent down two of the last three overs of the Eagles innings costing just 6 runs on his way to figures of 3 for 15 and leaving the visitors with a modest total to defend.

But they were given a fine start by Beard and Amir who whipped out the dangerous opening pair of James Vince and Rilee Rossouw inside three overs at a cost of 5 runs, both victims of Bopara catches at deep mid-wicket.

That left Northeast to supervise the quest for victory. Joined by Liam Dawson, the pair gathered 68 in 11 overs before Simon Harmer removed Dawson for 31 and Chris Morris for 2 in successive overs as Hampshire found themselves 86 for 4 and then 98 for 4 with three overs to be bowled against an attack that had bowled skilfully to restrict the home side.

Northeast, though, took on the challenge in a tantalising conclusion that was ultimately to leave both sides with a point and their hopes of a quarter-final place still alive – just.

The Essex Eagles face Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl in the Vitality Blast on Sunday buoyed by the 9-runs victory against Sussex Sharks that keeps the Club’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the competition alive.

With three matches remaining in the qualifying stage, the Eagles will probably need to win all three games to secure a place in the last eight, and captain Simon Harmer was glowing in his praise for his side after the win at Hove.

Harmer said: “I thought we batted extremely well, the batters did a great job and the bowlers were exceptional.

“It was a must-win game and you could see the boys put their hearts and souls into that performance. As a captain and a spectator at times, it was really, really motivating to watch. I think that we’ve lacked a little bit of that competitive edge in the tournament so overall, it was a good evening for the Eagles.”

The South African spin ace, acknowledged that having four matches ruined by the weather, including the three recent matches in succession, had not helped the Eagles cause to reach the latter stages of the competition.

He commented: “It has been difficult, the weather killed any momentum and it has been tough but, no excuses, we have let ourselves down.

“But hopefully, if we can put in another performance on Sunday similar to the Sussex one, then that can really boost us as we attempt to win three out of the last three.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Hampshire

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to announce that top-order batsman, Varun Chopra, has signed a contract extension and will stay with the Club until the end of the 2020 season.

Chopra, 32, is an Essex Academy graduate and has made 69 first-class, 57 List A and 41 T20 appearances for the Club since making his debut in 2006.

The homegrown batsman was the leading run-scorer for the Eagles in this year’s Royal London One-Day Cup, notching 421 runs at an impressive average of 84.20.

Chopra said: “I’m excited to extend my contract and I love playing for the Club. I’ve been fortunate enough to win trophies and create memories here at Essex that will last a lifetime, and hopefully we can create some more in the not too distant future.”

Head Coach Anthony McGrath is pleased to see Varun extend his contract and said: “Varun is a brilliant batsman and he has scored plenty of important runs for us over the years. He was one of the shining lights from our One-Day Cup campaign and we’re looking forward to seeing more from him in the future.”

Essex County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that top-order batsman, Dan Lawrence, has signed a contract extension and will stay with the Club until at least the end of the 2021 season.

Lawrence, 22, is an Essex Academy graduate and has made 64 first-class, 27 List A and 44 T20 appearances for the Club since making his debut in 2015.

The homegrown batsman had no hesitations in extending his contract and said: “I’m delighted to sign an extension and prolong my future with Essex.

“I’ve been at the Club since I was 10 and it was a really easy decision for me to make. Once the offer was put forward, it was just a case of signing on the dotted line.

“We have a really determined and ambitious group and I really believe we’re on the cusp of a long and successful era here at Essex.”

Head Coach Anthony McGrath is thrilled to see Lawrence extend his contract and said: “Dan is a really talented young batsman who has played an important role for us over the last few years and scored plenty of match-winning runs.

“He’s absolutely essential to what we are trying to build and achieve at the Club so it’s great news that he’s committed his future.”

Essex make an immediate switch of formats as they return to Vitality Blast action following the sensational victory on Tuesday in the Specsavers County Championship fixture with Kent.

The Eagles are in action at The 1st Central County Ground in Hove for the T20 encounter with Sussex Sharks, who start the match in pole position in the South Group with 15 points. 

Essex Eagles’ hopes of making progress through to the next stage have been derailed by the weather, with a total of just four overs in the last three matches.

In addition to the washed-out match early on in the competition against Gloucestershire, the Eagles have 8 points from 10 matches thus far; four points away from a Quarter-Final position in the table.

Head Coach, Anthony McGrath remains philosophical about the impact that the inclement weather has had on his squad’s aspirations for a place in the last eight.

“We can’t control the weather. It is what it is and you just have to get on with it but it has been frustrating,” he acknowledged.

“Obviously we’ve only won two of our matches in the first half of the Vitality Blast and were looking to gather some momentum in the second-half but the weather halted those hopes.

“We have four matches left starting with Sussex on Thursday and they are proving once again that they are a very dangerous side in this form of the game. They reached the Final last year and look to be on course for the knockout stages once again this time around.

“We probably need to win all four of our remaining games if we are to have the chance to join them but we’ll be giving it our best shot.

“We have a new captain this year in Simon Harmer and he’s wanted to try a few different things. He gets our complete backing but we need to get out on to the field to put all these ideas into practice.”

The Eagles have named the following a 14-man squad for the match that is scheduled to start at 7pm.

Essex Eagles team to face Sussex Sharks:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-Keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

An incredible three day’s of Specsavers County Championship cricket came to a climax on Tuesday with Essex securing a sixth straight win the competition. You will struggle to watch a more enthralling day’s cricket this season, which started with a cluster of wickets; something which would continue throughout the day.

After Essex were bowled out for 114, Sam Cook decimated the Kent batting lineup, with the help of Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter, to dismiss the hosts for their lowest ever first-class score against Essex (previously 43 at Southend in 1925).

A total of 26 wickets fell in the day, which ended with Adam Wheater and Simon Harmer putting on a valiant 57-run partnership to help set up the win in Canterbury.

Watch the incredible match highlights from all three days:

Day One

Day Two

Day Three

Essex return to red-ball cricket this weekend as Anthony McGrath’s side travel to Canterbury to face Kent in the Specsavers County Championship, starting on Sunday 18 August.

Peter Siddle will be missing from the side, having been called up by Australia for the Ashes series, but Mohammad Amir has been drafted in for what will be the final red-ball match of his career.

The 27-year-old has been playing T20 cricket with the Eagles and was a member of the successful 2017 Championship winning side, when his brief period with the Club saw him take 14 wickets in just three matches, all of which ended with Essex victories.

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, is delighted to have Amir for the game, and said: “To have him for this match is obviously outstanding and it’s a great boost for everyone.”

Essex lead the County Championship by 4 points and following this match, the Club will finish their Vitality Blast campaign before the final three Championship matches.

On the schedule, McGrath said: “The schedule is what it is. I think every coach will probably tell you that it is better to have the games in blocks but the way it has panned out means we have one game in the middle of our T20 campaign. Every team has got it so it’s the same for all and you just have to deal with it and get on with it.

“Of course, it means there is little time to get much preparation in for the return to red-ball cricket, but we’ll be doing that on Saturday ahead of the Kent game. T20 cricket and Championship cricket are polar opposites but we have to focus our minds on the return to the longer form of the game.

“We worked so hard to get to the top of the league and with four games left, we have to mentally switch on right from the start of the match with Kent. Our players have done so well in the 8-game block we had before the start of the T20 and hopefully, we can replicate those levels of performance when we play on Sunday.”

Essex squad to face Kent:

Ryan ten Doeschate (Captain) (27)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Nick Browne (10)
Alastair Cook (26)
Sam Cook (16)
Simon Harmer (11)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Rishi Patel (12)
Jamie Porter (44)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (Wicket-keeper) (31)

Essex County Cricket Club can today confirm that Mohammad Amir has extended his contract with the Club.

The 27-year-old has signed up for the remainder of the Vitality Blast group stages and will now be available to face Sussex Sharks, Hampshire, Surrey and Kent Spitfires.

Amir will also be the Club’s Overseas player for the upcoming Specsavers County Championship Division One fixture against Kent, starting on 18 August, which will be the final red-ball game of his career.

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, is delighted that Amir has prolonged his stay, and said: “We are really pleased that Mohammad will be playing red-ball cricket for us, especially after retiring from Test cricket with Pakistan in the past month.

“Mohammad agreed to play in this County Championship fixture before announcing his retirement from Test cricket, so we are really grateful that he has followed through on his promise given the circumstances.

“He will give us the extra dimension as a left-armer in our bowling unit and is a great replacement for Peter Siddle, who has now gone to play for Australia in the Ashes.”

Amir featured three times for Essex during the 2017 Specsavers County Championship campaign, as Ryan ten Doeschate’s side went on to claim the Division One title for the first time in 25 years.

The left-armer took 14 wickets at an average of 13.50, with his best figures of 5-18 coming in a memorable performance against Yorkshire at Scarborough.

Essex’s Overseas signings are in partnership with Seven Investment Management, the Eagles’ Vitality Blast shirt sponsor.