Search Results for: I

What a Win: The eagles win by 53 runs. Delport the star in an excellent team performance.

6 balls remain: 63 needed. Looks like it’ll be a great victory for the Eagles.

2 overs remain: Surrey need 75. Matt Quinn back on to bowl.

50 partnership: Clark and Burns bring up their 50 partnership.

4 overs remain: Zampa bowls a tight set leaving Surrey sitting on 133-6 after 11 overs.

STAT: Today’s century was Delport’s 5th T20 hundred and his fastest to date.

6 overs remain: and Surrey need 112 to win. Harmer and Ravi bowling nicely in tandem.

Halfway stage: After 7.3 overs Surrey sit on 90-5. Ravi clean bowling the ever-dangerous Aaron Finch. 137 needed off of the last 45 balls for Surrey.

Wicket: Make that 32-4, Zampa getting the second wicket of his campaign.

What A Start: Surrey are sitting on 32-3 after 2.3 overs. Will Jacks made quick runs before 3 wickets in a Quinn startled Surrey.

Innings: Essex finish on a huge 226-4. Delport finishing on 129 with 7 4’s and 14 6’s.

6 balls left: The eagles have already amassed a brilliant 215 runs. The Chelmsford crowd are elated!

200 up: The milestones keep coming. The eagles reaching 200 from just 13.2 overs.

50: Dan Lawrence has joined Delport to the party bringing his 50 up from 17 balls. The score sits at 192-3 from 13 overs.

100 partnership: Dan Lawrence and Cameron Delport are helping the boys motor to a formidable target.

100: Delport reaches his hundred from just 37 balls. Scary ball-striking from the eagle.

Over 9: Essex look set to post a strong total as they stand on 109-3.

100 up: Delport 72(28) and Lawrence 1 (1) receive warm applause from the Chelmsford faithful.

Wicket: Tendo departs, Dan Lawrence joins the main man Delport at the crease.

Over 6: The score sits at 71-2. Rikki Clarke is coming on to bowl.

Wicket: Westley is caught by Finch off the bowling of Gareth Batty for 9.

50: Delport reaches his 50 from 19 balls. A gargantuan knock.

Over 5: Delport is showing the crowd just why his career T20 strike rate sits at 137. The South African is on 48 off of just 18 balls. The Eagles sit at 65-1.

Over 4: Delport begins to click into his next gear hitting 3 consecutive boundaries off of Sam Curran. Tom Curran is replacing Jade Dernbach at the over end as Essex sits on 38-1.

Over 3: The crowd is in typically good spirits as Westley and Delport occupy the crease. The score sits at 23-1.

Over 2: The score sits at 16-1, Westley and Delport at the crease

Wicket: Chopra had played some nice shots to Sam Curran, but the Surrey man gets the wicket with Varun caught at Short Third Man. Essex 12-1

OVER 1: Dernbach opens for Surrey, Delport, and Chopra look assured as they take 3 from the over.

NEWS: The game is scheduled now to be 15 overs for each side.

NEWS: The covers are off and we are planning to start at 8:15

How Things Stand: Play can only begin once the rain has ceased here in Chelmsford with the latest start time set as 9:29. The game can be reduced all the way down to a 5 over match if the weather dictates so.

RAIN DELAY: The covers are on before a ball has been bowled. A toss has occurred however in one of the brief shower-less periods with Surrey winning it and choosing to field. Updates will be on here as and when they occur.

1 hour before the first ball: The gates are open with fans starting to enter the ground. The players from both sides have warmed up and are now readying their match plans. Surrey have brought a squad to the fortress featuring both Curran brothers and Aussie World Cup captain Aaron Finch, whilst the Eagles keep the same squad from yesterday’s game at Lords.

Welcome to The Cloudfm County Ground, where Essex Eagles take on Surrey in their second Vitality Blast match of the 2019 campaign, with Simon Harmer’s side looking to secure their first win of the competition.

Essex Eagles entertain Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground this evening and are looking to get straight back to winning ways.

The Eagles suffered defeat to Middlesex at Lord’s yesterday by 7 wickets in the opening match of their Vitality Blast campaign, after AB de Villiers blasted an unbeaten 88 from just 43 balls.

It was not the start that newly appointed Eagles captain Simon Harmer would have scripted but he remained positive.

Harmer said: “Yes, it was disappointing not to get off to a win and there is definitely room for improvement, but it was the first game of the tournament and there is plenty of stuff to work on.

“The majority of our bowlers bowled really well and I thought our score of 164 was a good score because I thought around 150 was par, so with our score, I thought we really were in with a shout.

“But when AB comes off, I don’t think even 250 would have been enough, he is one of the greatest T20 batsmen and he outfoxed us on this occasion.

“We can’t afford to dwell on the defeat for too long because we’ve got another match tonight and we have to pick ourselves up. We really want to get a win under our belt in front of our own crowd and hopefully we can put in a good performance for them.

The match with Surrey offers Eagles fans their first opportunity to see new signing Cameron Delport in action at The Cloudfm County Ground and the blast away batsman is relishing the opportunity to play at the compact venue. 

Delport said: “I remember playing here a few years ago when I was a kid and I think I hit a few over the boundary then.”

The 30-year-old all-rounder is a renowned performer in T20 cricket around the globe and he is delighted to be experiencing another taste of the quickfire action in this country having previously represented Leicestershire Foxes.

Born in South Africa, Delport blasted a 49-ball ton for Islamabad United against Lahore Qalandars back in March to set new figures for the fastest century scored in Pakistan Super League history.

Now he is eyeing the short distance from the crease to the boundary at Chelmsford and he admits that he cannot wait to make his acquaintance with the home faithful.

“The club has such an amazing history and tradition so I’m proud to be given the opportunity to get involved. Hopefully I can play my part and get the Eagles through to Finals Day.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Surrey:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Varun Chopra (6)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Matt Quinn (94)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

After red-ball heroics over the past couple of months, Simon Harmer can turn his attention to the Vitality Blast and his first shot at short-form captaincy.

His mission statement is simple and unequivocal. “My goal is to take us to Finals Day,” says Ryan ten Doeschate’s successor. “I really don’t think that’s aiming for the moon. It’s very achievable and something I look forward to doing.”

“It’s not ideal that we’ve only got that one day to prepare for the first T20 game, but luckily we’ve got a few players who are not part of the four-day set-up who will be coming in for the T20. Our two overseas pros [Mohammad Amir and Adam Zampa] have been playing in the World Cup, so there will have been a lot of focus on white-ball cricket for them.

“We play two games back-to-back, then we’ve got six days until our next game, so we’ve identified that period to put in some real hard yards. I’m sure those first two games aren’t going to be polished performances, but it’s a 14-game competition and it’s about being consistent over the entire competition, not starting like a house on fire.”

Harmer has made 26 T20 appearances for Essex over his two previous seasons at the Club and will also be drawing on the experience of helping Jozi Stars to success in the inaugural Mzansi Super League back home during the winter.

“You’re always learning as a cricketer. There are a few things I picked up during that tournament I’d like to try that I think would work. I’m not the most seasoned campaigner when it comes to T20 cricket, but we’ve got an incredibly strong squad and lots of senior players around me.

“I don’t think it’s going to be a pied piper sort of thing where I’m going to get all the boys to follow me. It’s all about harnessing the potential we have and channeling it in the right direction.

“My whole thing is going to be geared around how we train: it’s taking care of the pennies, the small things, and the pounds will take care of themselves. If we are able to put things together in training, and pay attention to the small details, when it comes into a match the big things will take care of themselves.

“The chat we’ve had with the squad has been about training as smartly as we can, not necessarily as hard as we can. It is all talk now – it then needs to be put into play. It’s going to be challenging, but it’s something I’m looking forward to.”

Essex Eagles get the Vitality Blast campaign underway on Thursday with a trip to London where they face Middlesex in front of an anticipated 20,000 crowd.

New signings Adam Zampa and Cameron Delport will both be in line to appear at Lord’s, but Mohammad Amir will unfortunately now miss out on the trip, with the Home Office still yet to clear his UK sporting visa.

Zampa was a member of Australia’s World Cup squad and he led the Eagles bowling averages last year when he took 12 wickets in 10 matches at 20.75.

From Delport, fans can expect to see fireworks. The South African born left-hander is one of the stalwarts of T20 cricket around the world. He played for Leicestershire Foxes in 2017 and in addition to being a powerful hitter in the top-order, he is a useful medium-pace bowler and an excellent fielder.

Simon Harmer takes over the T20 captaincy this year from Ryan ten Doeschate and the South African is looking forward to the responsibility of improving the Eagles fortunes in the competition.

Harmer said: “The Club felt that they needed a change of direction and hopefully I can try to do my best to get us through and realise our focus which is to reach Finals Day.

“Over the last few years, I think that Tendo has been one of our best performing cricketers but there has been a lot of weight on his shoulders with the responsibility of captaincy. He is a terrific cricketer and now he has the opportunity to just concentrate on his own game.

“Taking on the captaincy is an exciting challenge for me, I think there’s going to be a lot of expectation as we haven’t performed to the levels we know we’re capable of, but it’s a challenge that I wanted.

“T20 is about being able to nail or execute the skills, slower balls and stuff like that and I’m really looking forward to leading the team in the right direction.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Middlesex:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Varun Chopra (6)
Cameron Delport (89)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Matt Quinn (94)
Shane Snater (29)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

It is almost time to walk out at The Cloudfm County Ground again for the opening Vitality Blast match of the season on Friday night. Surrey are the visitors and make the short trip for their first game of the competition.

The two sides always produce excitement with Surrey coming out on top last season. Here’s the low-down on Friday’s opponents…

T20 Titles: 1 (2003)

Trips to Finals Days: 6

Coach: Michael Di Venuto – Has been quietly effective in charge at the Kia Oval since his arrival in 2016, with last year’s Specsavers County Championship title the biggest feather in his coaching cap to date.

Captain: Jade Dernbach – Has not played yet this season in any format due to his rehabilitation from a long-term calf injury but the 33-year-old pace bowler, with 58 England white-ball caps, impressed as Surrey’s short-form captain last year.

Overseas players: Aaron Finch (Australia), Imran Tahir (South Africa)

The Narrative: Since winning the inaugural Twenty20 Cup in 2003 the Brown Caps have been runners-up twice, in 2004 and 2013, and also made Finals Day appearances in 2005, 2006 and 2014. Since then they have suffered short-form frustration, including just missing out on a quarter-final place last season. But the winter signings of Liam Plunkett and Jordan Clark, and the arrival of leg spinner Imran Tahir as overseas player alongside Australian batsman Aaron Finch, who returns for a fourth successive season, boost an already highly-talented squad.

Key Man: Aaron Finch – The opener plundered 589 runs from only nine innings in last year’s South Group fixtures, five of them unbeaten, averaging a remarkable 147.25 and scoring two hundreds and three fifties.

Mr Consistency: Rikki Clarke – The all-rounder will be 38 in September but since his return to his native county towards the end of the 2017 season he has been a model of consistency and high standards with both bat and ball. In last year’s Vitality Blast he was an ever-present with 235 runs at an average of 47 and 16 wickets at 23.56 runs apiece. In 160 career T20 matches, Clarke has scored 2,245 runs and taken 112 wickets.

Under the radar: Will Jacks, still only 20, already has Championship and List A hundreds to his name and has the power and range of strokes to explode in T20 cricket too. A brilliant fielder, he also bowls useful off-spin.

Killer Stat: They say T20 is a young man’s game, which must make Surrey one of the big favourites for the Vitality Blast title this year. The super-talented youthful group of Tom Curran (24), Sam Curran (21), Ollie Pope (21), Conor McKerr (21), Ryan Patel (21), Will Jacks (20) and Jamie Smith (19) have already more than made their mark in Surrey’s first team across all formats – and in some cases with England too – and they will all provide energy and enthusiasm in and around the county’s short form squad.

Tickets for this match are sold out but still you can still catch the Eagles in action this season with 6 other games taking place at The Cloudfm County Ground!

 

The amazing summer of cricket is set to continue with just days to go until the Vitality Blast campaign lands at The Cloudfm County Ground!

The opener against Surrey on Friday 19 July is sold out BUT tickets for the other 6 remaining matches throughout July and August are still available but selling fast…

Friday 19 July, 7pm: Surrey – SOLD OUT!

Saturday 27 July, 7pm: Gloucestershire

Thursday 01 August, 7pm: Hampshire

Wednesday 07 August, 7pm: Somerset

Wednesday 14 August, 7pm: Middlesex

Friday 16 August, 7pm: Glamorgan

Friday 30 August, 6:30pm: Kent Spitfires

Tickets are also available in person at The Cloudfm County Ground (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) and by phone on 01245 254010 (Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm).

Have you tried Hospitality at The Cloudfm County Ground?

Enjoy the T20 matchday dining experience with hospitality packages selling fast across the Vitality Blast competition in 2019!

The popular unlimited drink options return this year for both limited over competitions, plus the chance to enjoy our Bottomless Bubbles Prosecco packages at this year’s two international fixtures!

Packages for the Blast matches during July and August are still available, including a further two Friday night clashes at The Cloudfm County Ground against Glamorgan and Kent Spitfires.

For further information on the options available and to book your places, including for our Unlimited Drinks packages, contact the Commercial Department by phone 01245 254120 or [email protected].

Following Mohammad Amir’s arrival last week, Cameron Delport has landed and ready for action in this year’s Vitality Blast! The South African joins up for the opening match at Lord’s on Thursday and set to make his home debut on Friday in front of a packed out Chelmsford.

Cameron spoke to Essex Cricket TV about his thoughts on joining the Eagles, as well as looking ahead to a busy T20 schedule in the coming weeks.

You can catch Cameron Delport and the Essex Eagles during this year’s competition with tickets now available. The opening clash against Surrey is sold out but be quick to snap up your tickets for other remaining 6 matches!

Tickets prices start from £25.00 Adults, £20.00 Students/Young Adults (18-25) and £10 Juniors (U18s) with Allocated and Premium seating also available. Purchase online now or phone 01245 254010 to book by phone.

Essex v Warwickshire
Specsavers County Championship
Saturday 13 July – Tuesday 16 July
Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford

Essex Team: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Rishi Patel, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Aaron Beard, Matt Quinn

Warwickshire Team: Liam Banks, Will Rhodes, Rob Yates, Adam Hose, Dan Mousley, Tim Ambrose(wk), Michael Burgess, Henry Brookes, Jeetan Patel(c), Olly Stone, Oliver Hannon-Dalby

Toss: Uncontested, Warwickshire elected to bowl.

Umpires: Paul Baldwin & Steve O’Shaughnessy

Result:

Day Four Reaction: Ryan ten Doeschate

Day Four: End of Match Report

Simon Harmer collected his seventh haul of five or more wickets in an innings this season as Essex thrashed Warwickshire by 187 runs to move to the top of the Specsavers County Championship Division One table.

The South African born bowler spun his way to figures of 6 for 75 as the visitors were bowled out for 213 after resuming the day on 67 for 1.

Peter Siddle made the first breakthrough of the morning with the help of Tom Westley in the slips. Shortly after Liam Banks had completed his maiden half-century with the help of seven boundaries, he departed six balls later to pave the way for Harmer to make rapid inroads into the innings.

In the space of 20 deliveries, Harmer claimed four wickets for only two runs, starting with Rob Yates and Dan Mousley with successive deliveries.

Both were gobbled up at slip by Alastair Cook before Tim Ambrose and Adam Hose soon became further victims of the South African.

Ambrose was caught around the corner by Dan Lawrence for 8 whilst Hose, having scored 13, swept a delivery to Rishi Patel at mid-wicket.

That left Warwickshire reeling at 163 for 7 before a few defiant blows from Michael Burgess and Henry Brookes were to give the Warwickshire total a more respectable look.

Brookes twice punished Harmer for six and also hit two fours during his 27 until Matt Quinn arrived to have him caught behind by Will Buttleman who found himself deputising for wicket-keeper Adam Wheater. The first choice keeper remained in the Pavilion of Day Four nursing a thumb injury sustained on the previous day.

Peter Siddle ended the brief resistance of Jeetan Patel as Harmer accepted a catch in the slips and then the spinner completed his five wicket haul when Ollie Stone edged a ball through to Buttleman.

Michael Burgess continued to go bravely for his shots and was the last man out for 64 from 69 balls with the aid of seven fours and three sixes.

Burgess was stumped giving Harmer the charge as Buttleman confirmed his promise with a highly competent performance.

With match figures of 8 for 43, Harmer has now claimed 65 Championship wickets whilst Siddle’s seven wickets take his tally to 34 in the competition.

The win was completed with more than a session and a half remaining and Essex emerged with 20 points to move to the top of the table after Somerset gained just one point from their defeat against Yorkshire. With four Championship matches remaining, Essex now hold a four point advantage with both counties having played the same number of games.

Day Four: Lunch Report

A devastating spell of bowling by Simon Harmer has put Essex on the cusp of victory, a win that would allow them to leapfrog Somerset and take over as leaders of Specsavers County Championship Division One.

Off-spinner Harmer took 4 wickets in 20 balls at a personal cost of just 2 runs as Warwickshire lost six wickets in the morning session to reach the interval on 171 for 7, still 230 runs short of their target.

Liam Banks had collected the 14 runs he required to add to his overnight score to bring up his maiden first-class half-century which spanned 81 balls. However, six balls later he became Peter Siddle’s sixth wicket of the match when he edged to Tom Westley at third slip.

That left Warwickshire 83 for 2. Siddle was replaced by Aaron Beard and four runs later, the bowler might have claimed a wicket in his first over when he found the edge of the bat of Adam Hose but Harmer was unable to complete the catch at second slip. However, Hose’s ‘additional life’ was to be short-lived.

Harmer quickly made amends for his dropped catch by having Yates and Mousley caught by Alastair Cook at first slip for 13 and 0 respectively, before Tim Ambrose went soon after, caught by Dan Lawrence in the leg trap for 8.

Hose, who had got off the mark when he was dropped, had advanced his score to 13 when he swept a ball to Rishi Patel at mid-wicket to give Harmer his revenge and redemption.

Michael Burgess and Henry Brookes added a quickfire 51 in 9 overs before Matt Quinn had Brookes caught down the leg side by substitute wicket-keeper Will Buttleman for 27 runs, shortly before the lunch break.

It left Burgess 29 not out at the interval with Jeetan Patel on 2 unbeaten and Harmer with figures of 4 for 55.

With Somerset losing to Yorkshire earlier in the day, Essex will top the table by 4 points if they can secure the win against Warwickshire.

Day Three: Match Highlights

Day Three Reaction: Dan Lawrence

Day Three: Close of Play Report

Essex still have plenty of hard work ahead if they are to beat Warwickshire and move closer to the Championship top spot.

After leaving the Bears a daunting task of scoring 401 for victory, the visitors reached 67 for 1 at the Close with Liam Banks unbeaten on 36 and Rob Yates 4 not out.

Essex had declared the second innings on 316 for 9 shortly after Tea to leave themselves nearly four sessions to carve out a fifth successive victory.

As on the opening day, the Essex innings owed much to Alastair Cook and Dan Lawrence as they again posted half-centuries.

Cook, when once more within touching distance of his hundred, fell lbw to Will Rhodes for 83 after hitting 11 boundaries in his 168-ball stay, while Lawrence was caught behind immediately after tea for 74 that also included 11 fours.

He, too, was a victim of Rhodes who went on to finish with 4 for 38 and claim match figures of 9 for 55.

Essex had resumed the day on 73 for 1 and had advanced to 135 before Cook was removed from the scene.

In the same over, Tom Westley was caught behind whilst in the next, spinner Jeetan Patel ended the obdurate resistance of nightwatchman, Matt Quinn.

He hung around while making 9 from 69 deliveries as the county slumped to 139 for 4.

And the decline continued when Rishi Patel and Ryan ten Doeschate were sent back for 15 and 5 respectively before Lawrence and Adam Wheater raised the 200.

Wheater became another Patel victim for 21 shortly afterwards before Lawrence, who excelled with some fine driving, and the aggression of Simon Harmer halted the slump.

They added 84 before both were despatched back to the Pavilion without addition to the tea score of 299 for 7.

Lawrence was the first to fall on his sword while Harmer was seven short of his half-century when Patel had him caught on the boundary edge at long-on.

The declaration quickly followed but Essex hopes of making quick inroads into the Warwickshire innings were to evaporate as Rhodes and Banks provided backbone and discipline, qualities that were lacking in the visitors first time around.

They put on 56 before Aaron Beard struck in his second over to trap Rhodes leg before wicket for 25.

Banks and Yates steered clear of further trouble before the close on a day when Will Buttleman was summoned to take over behind the stumps because Wheater was feeling the effects of a thumb injury sustained on the second day.

Day Three: Tea Report

Dan Lawrence scored an unbeaten half-century to steer Essex to 299 for 7, representing an overall lead of 383 runs at tea.

Lawrence reached 50 for the second time in the match when he struck a cover drive off Henry Brookes to post a seventh boundary of his innings which allowed him to celebrate his half-century. Boundaries followed of the next two deliveries from Brookes, both straight drives, one on the leg side and then past mid-off.

Essex had lost the wicket of Rishi Patel to the first ball after lunch when the 20-year-old looped a catch to second slip to give Brookes the first of two wickets in an over.

With the final ball of the over, Ryan ten Doeschate (5) lost his middle stump to leave the home side 177 for 6.

Adam Wheater batted enterprisingly but having contributed 21 of a 38-run partnership with Lawrence, Wheater reverse swept a ball from Jeetan Patel and was caught in the slips.

Lawrence continued to play in an uncomplicated manner and effortlessly executed some well-timed drives and wristy stroke play.

The middle order batsman was joined in an unbroken partnership with Simon Harmer as the pair capitalised on anything loose whilst keeping the scoreboard ticking, adding some well-judged singles.

At tea, Lawrence had collected 11 boundaries in his unbeaten 74 whilst Harmer was 43 not out that included 5 boundaries and 1 six.

Day Three: Lunch Report

Alastair Cook played a significant innings, assisting Essex to reach 169 for 4 at lunch and representing an overall lead of 253 runs over opponents Warwickshire at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The opener, having resumed play on his overnight 34, arrived at his half-century from 123 balls with the sixth boundary of his innings and continued to assert his authority, driving and cutting freely.

A century appeared on the cards but for the second time in the match, he was undone by medium-pacer Will Rhodes. Cook, who had scored 84 in the Essex first innings, was 83 in his second visit to the crease and having increased his boundary count to 11, he stepped across a delivery from Rhodes and was adjudged leg before wicket.

That brought to an end his 63 run partnership in 26 overs with night watchman Matt Quinn.

Rhodes then claimed the second of his two wickets in the space of six deliveries, when he had Tom Westley snapped up by wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose for 4. This left the bowler with figures of 3 for 10 after removing Nick Browne the previous evening.

Without addition to the total of 139, Matthew Quinn, who had been a study in studious watchfulness having batted for 99 minutes and faced 69 balls for his 9 runs, pushed forward but could only edge through to Tim Ambrose off the bowling of Jeetan Patel.

Dan Lawrence and Rishi Patel avoided any further mishaps for the home side and they will resume after lunch, both with 15 runs to their credit.

Day Two: Match Highlights

Day Two Reaction: Matt Quinn

Day Two: Close of Play Report

Peter Siddle was instrumental in bowling title-chasing Essex into a commanding position in the Championship clash with Warwickshire at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The Australian fast bowler returned 5 for 33 from 17 hostile overs as the visitors were bowled out for 161.

This gave Essex a first innings lead of 84 to which they added a further 73 for 1 before the close to leave them firm favourites to go on and record their fifth successive victory.

Warwickshire’s only partnership of note featured Tim Ambrose and Michael Burgess, who shared in a stand of 64 after coming together at 62 for five.

But both were to depart in the same Siddle over as Tom Westley pocketed two catches. Ambrose was first to go for 38 while Burgess departed three balls later for 35.

It was Siddle who gained the first breakthrough when he trapped Will Rhodes in front of his stumps with only 6 on the board and later got rid of Henry Brookes and Ollie Stone to celebrate his second five-wicket haul of the summer.

Aaron Beard and off-spinner Simon Harmer finished with 2 for 18 and 2 for 68 respectively while Matt Qin picked up the other wicket at a cost of 33 runs.

The morning session proved a turgid affair with only 57 runs scored from 30 overs during which four wickets fell.

Rob Yates departed five runs later, an lbw victim of Harmer after a painstaking 32 that had consumed 92 deliveries, to pave the way for Ambrose and Burgess to inject some welcome aggression.

Between them, they gathered 13 boundaries before Siddle roared in to remove them both and firmly handing back the initiative to the home side.

Alastair Cook and Nick Browne were to ensure the efforts of Siddle and co were not wasted as Essex tightened their grip on the game.

Without looking in any trouble, the openers extended the county’s overall lead to beyond 150 runs while putting together their fifth half-century partnership of the season.

But the arrival of Rhodes, who collected five wickets in the first innings, was to break the stand when it had produced 72 runs.

With the second legitimate delivery of his opening over, the previous ball had been called wide, he trapped Browne lbw for 38 leaving Cook and nightwatchman Matt Quinn to take Essex safely to the close.

Cook will resume the third day on 33 with Quinn still to get off the mark and leaving Essex enjoying an overall advantage of 157 runs.

Day Two: Tea Report

Essex gained a first innings lead of 84 runs after dismissing Warwickshire for 161 with Peter Siddle returning figures of 5 for 33, his second 5-fer of the Championship campaign.

The Australian pace bowler was rewarded for his admirable and consistent line and length taking four of the six wickets to fall after lunch whilst Aaron Beard and Simon Harmer chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Harmer needed only 15 deliveries of the post-lunch session to account for Rob Yates whose intended sweep ended with a leg before wicket decision against him to end his innings of 32.

Michael Burgess joined Tim Ambrose and the pair looked increasingly comfortable as they posted a half-century stand in 98 balls. They had carried the visitor’s score onto 126 when Siddle claimed both batsmen within four balls and with the assistance of Tom Westley.

Ambrose, on 38, was the first to go when he edged a ball that found extra bounce into the hands of second slip to leave Warwickshire 126-6. One run and three balls later, Burgess on 35, drove the ball to Westley, now stationed at mid-off where the fielder took a comfortable catch.

Siddle, using a good variety of pace, then struck twice in six deliveries with the total on 134. Henry Brookes popped a catch up to Ryan ten Doeschate at short leg whilst Ollie Stone edged behind where Adam Wheater completed the catch.

The last wicket added 27 runs in three overs before Jeetan Patel, who had scored 23 runs, had his stumps re-arranged by Beard.

Tea was then taken leaving Essex to face 29 overs in the final session of the day.

Day Two: Lunch Report

Replying to the Essex first innings total of 245 all out, Warwickshire reached Lunch on 57-4 from 30 overs on an attritional morning ‘s play with each of the four bowlers used by the home side all claiming a wicket.

Rob Yates has frustrated hopes of further progress for Essex after they claimed four wickets in 22 overs for 33 runs. The 19-year-old survived by virtue of disciplined batting to reach the break on 31 with Tom Ambrose 9 not out.

Peter Siddle found the breakthrough in his third over when he nipped a delivery across Will Rhodes, who had scored five of the six runs on the board and gained the lbw verdict.

Liam Banks fell in the next over when he was bowled by Matt Quinn for 8 and with the score on 21, Aaron Beard joined the attack to replace Siddle.

With his second delivery, he accounted for Adam Hose when the batsman, who had spent 35 minutes at the crease and faced 25 balls in an unsuccessful attempt to get off the mark, rocked back to drive outside off but was caught by Alastair Cook at first slip.

Twelve runs later, Simon Harmer joined the list of wicket-takers as he collected Championship victim number 58 for the season and 42nd at Chelmsford when debutant Dan Mousley was removed. The batsman, who celebrated his 18th birthday last week, had scored 3 when he nicked a catch to Adam Wheater.

That left Yates and Ambrose with half an hour to negotiate until lunch despite the attacking close-set field and occasional deliveries that passed the outside of the bat.

At lunch, Siddle had figures of 1 for 11, Quinn 1 for 16, Harmer 1 for 19 and Beard 1 for 9.

Day One: Match Highlights

Day One Reaction: Andre Nel

Day One: Close of Play Report

Essex were victims of a dramatic collapse as they were bowled out for 245 by Championship rivals Warwickshire at The Cloudfm County Ground.

After reaching 157-2 following an uncontested toss, they lost their remaining eight wickets for 88 runs as their middle order failed to make an impact.

Despite the early loss of Nick Browne and Tom Westley to Henry Brookes, Essex had looked poised for a substantial total as Alastair Cook and Dan Lawrence put together a century partnership without looking in any trouble.

But Essex were put on the slippery slope by Will Rhodes, who spent a spell on loan at Chelmsford from Yorkshire three years ago. The medium-pace bowler returned career-best figures of 5-17 from 14.3 overs to seize the initiative away from the hosts.

In the space of 26 balls, he captured four wickets for only two runs, starting with the removal of Cook for 84 after his stand with Lawrence produced 116 in 39 overs.

Cook, who was playing his 300th first-class game, had looked set for his second Championship century of the campaign when he tamely placed a catch into the hands of Jeetan Patel in the gully after gathering 11 fours in his 195-ball stay.

Rhodes then snared Lawrence with another wide delivery, that ended in the gloves of Tim Ambrose. Lawrence contributed 61, with nine fours and a six, from 105 deliveries and he was quickly followed back to the pavilion by Rishi Patel and Adam Wheater during Rhodes destructive spell.

When Simon Harmer fell leg before to Oliver Hannon-Dalby for a duck with the total on 178, it meant Essex had lost five wickets in 11 overs while adding 21 runs.

Ryan ten Doeschate (26) and Peter Siddle (17) did offer some resistance that saw them complete the home side’s solitary batting point, before Aaron Beard and Matt Quinn put together the second highest stand of the innings, an effort that saw them add 34 for the last wicket.

But the return of Rhodes brought the innings to a close when he had Beard caught behind for 29.

Day One: Tea Report

Alastair Cook and Dan Lawrence both posted half-centuries as they combined for a third-wicket partnership worth 116 runs but then both were dismissed within four overs as the home side reached the break on 169-4.

Cook scored 84 and Lawrence 61 before both were caught off the bowling of medium-pacer Will Rhodes. They had flourished during the afternoon session by virtue of a series of responsible strokeplay that included cleanly struck drives and cuts.

Cook arrived at his fifth Championship half-century, one of which he had turned to three figures, having faced 122 balls that included 7 fours, whilst Lawrence needed only 68 balls to reach the milestone.

The pair had seemed untroubled but the return of Will Rhodes into the attack was to prove their downfall as they chased wider deliveries outside off stump.

The bowler, who spent a brief period on loan with Essex from Yorkshire in 2016, had only taken one wicket in the Championship this season but was to enjoy success with two wickets in 11 deliveries.

Cook dabbed but picked out Jeetan Patel at gully and then Lawrence pushed outside off and edged the ball through to wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose to leave Essex 164-4.

It left Rishi Patel and Ryan ten Doeschate to prevent further trouble with the pair arriving at tea with 1 and 5 respectively whilst Rhodes could reflect on his figures of 5-3-6-2.

Day One: Lunch Report

Alastair Cook batted throughout the morning session to reach 34 not out as Essex reached the Lunch break 73-2 in their County Championship clash with Warwickshire at The Cloudfm County Ground.

After an uncontested toss, the home side lost the wickets of Nick Browne and Tom Westley cheaply before Dan Lawrence arrived to join Cook to contribute 25 runs in an unbroken partnership of 32 by the interval.

Former England captain Cook, making his 300th first-class appearance, played with trademark responsibility and disciplined shot selection although pulling and driving freely when appropriate.

He had been the more aggressive of the opening pair in a steady partnership that had posted 27 in 14 overs before Browne was caught at backward point for 6 to give Henry Brookes the first of his two wickets.

Oliver Hannon-Dalby proved admirably economical conceding just 4 runs in a 7-overs opening spell of which six were maidens before Brookes was introduced into the attack.

And Brookes was to strike again when Tom Westley pulled a short delivery to mid-wicket where Michael Burgess, on Warwickshire debut, completed a staggering onehanded catch.

Westley had made 8 and his departure left the home side 41-2 but Lawrence, who timed the ball superbly, and Cook eased their side through to Lunch without further concerns.

Essex made one enforced change from the side that beat Yorkshire earlier this week with Matt Quinn called into the line-up to replace Jamie Porter who is on duty with the England Lions against Australia A.

Rishi Patel continues to deputise for Ravi Bopara who has been ruled out with a back problem.

Whilst cheering on Essex, Members can also catch England in the ICC World Cup Final on Sunday at The Cloudfm County Ground!

With the Final coinciding with Day Two of Essex v Warwickshire in the Specsavers County Championship, we will be screening England v New Zealand around the ground within our Members facilities.

This includes the Doug Insole Pavilion and Woodland Group Premier Marquee dining area.

The Woodland Group Pavilion Marquee will house two screens and is free for Members to use throughout the day. This will be showing both the ICC World Cup and Wimbledon Men’s Final.

Not a Member? Match ticket holders can upgrade to become a Member for the day and enjoy the Members facilities at the cost of an additional £5 on the entry gates.

Essex Cricket are delighted to announce that Klarners Coaches have extended their partnership with the Club and will continue to be our Official Coach Provider and Travel Organiser.

Darrell Fox, Commercial Manager at Essex Cricket, is delighted to have Klarners Coaches partnered for another year and said: “Klarners Coaches have provided a fantastic service for both our players and supporters over the last couple of years and we’ve only ever received great feedback about the transport they have arranged.”

Graham Klarner, owner of Klarners Coaches said: “We’ve absolutely loved being involved with Essex Cricket over the last couple of seasons and hopefully the future is bright both on and off the pitch.

“We’ll continue to provide the best possible transport for the Essex team and ensure that the Essex fans have a great travelling experience when attending away fixtures.”

About Klarners Coaches:

Klarners Coaches bring comfort, safety and reliability to private coach hire in Kent, London and the South East.