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Essex v Middlesex | Specsavers County Championship | The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford

Essex team | Alastair Cook (26), Nick Browne (10), Tom Westley (21), Dan Lawrence (28), Ravi Bopara (25), Ryan ten Doeschate* (27), James Foster+ (7), Paul Walter (22), Simon Harmer (11), Mohammad Amir (5), Jamie Porter (44).

Middlesex team | Nick Compton, Nick Gubbins, Steve Eskinazi, Dawid Malan, Paul Stirling, John Simpson, Ryan Higgins, Toby Roland-Jones, Ollie Rayner, Tim Murtagh, Steve Finn.

Umpires | P Hartley & D Millns

Toss | Middlesex won the toss and chose to bat

Day Four | Close of Play Report

Simon Harmer took nine for 95 to lead Essex to a dramatic penultimate-over victory against Middlesex and extend their lead at the top of the Specsavers County Championship to 29 points.

The South African off-spinner’s match figures of 14 for 172 was his second 14-wicket haul in successive matches, his fourth successive five-wicket return, and raised his season’s tally to 47 Championship wickets for the season to date.

When he trapped Steven Finn lbw and wheeled away in triumph, there were a maximum of eight balls remaining in the game. Harmer was given a standing ovation when he left the field after claiming his career best bowling figures.

It gave Essex their third successive Championship win. But for long periods of the final day, it looked as if Nick Compton was going to save the game for a Middlesex side who have now lost two of their last three games.

Compton batted nearly all day for 120 after six hours and 20 minutes at the crease. When he departed, the sixth of Harmer’s wickets, and Chelmsford bathed in floodlight, there were nine overs to go and Middlesex were 252 for six, chasing 296 to make Essex bat again. But four wickets went down in 27 balls as Essex recorded their second innings victory on the trot.

It had been a disappointing season for Compton, who had managed just 81 runs in four previous Championship innings this season, with a highest score of 22, after a delayed start due to injury. His 26th career first-class century encompassed 303 balls and contained 14 fours and one six.

Compton, 34 on Monday, was arguably the only batsman who came to terms with Harmer. Unlike many of the South African’s 28 victims over the last 11 days, Compton showed great respect and wariness. Apart from an early delivery he left alone as it turned in from outside off-stump, and gave him heart palpitations, he treated every ball on its merits.

However, he lost concentration when he played no shot to another from Harmer that started outside off-stump and turned, and departed lbw.

Much, much earlier, Compton tried to hit Harmer out of the attack with a six over long leg. It was the only real show of aggression in his innings, and it failed to get the intended result.

Compton shared a fourth-wicket stand of 153 with Paul Stirling that looked as if it would take the game away from Essex. The pair were immovable for 55 overs as Essex used seven bowlers, some of them rarely seen, in an attempt to split them. However, they did themselves no favours by twice putting down Stirling to comparatively easy chances.

Earlier it had looked as though Harmer was going to dismiss Middlesex on his own long before the floodlights came on. He took three for 15 from his first 26 deliveries of the day before Compton and Stirling settled into their stride in a stand that showed the off-spinner more respect and wariness than had some of their colleagues.

Harmer made an immediate breakthrough with the first ball after Middlesex had gone through 13 overs unscathed overnight. Nick Gubbins pushed forward to try and kill the turn and only managed to loop it into Alastair Cook’s hands at first slip.

His second wicket wasn’t long in coming. Stevie Eskanazi edged another that turned in on the batsman; it hit Cook in the chest, but he was able to scoop the earth-bound ball across for Varun Chopra to dive full-length and take the catch at leg slip.

In his next over, Harmer had Dawid Malan playing back as if to cut, only to miss the ball completely and lose his bails. Middlesex were 51 for three with around 87 overs still to negotiate.

Compton played watchfully, though when Harmer strayed fractionally off line, the ball was pulled firmly to the midwicket boundary on his way to a 111-ball half-century.

Stirling received his first let-off when he had eked out 19, Cook spilling an edge off Paul Walter. The Irishman curbed the natural instincts that had brought him a six-hitting, 50-ball 77 in the first innings; he managed about a quarter of total in his first 50 balls second time around.

But he should have gone in Harmer’s first over of the second session when one popped up to Dan Lawrence at short leg and was grassed. Harmer’s fury was visible; so was Lawrence’s contrition as he kicked the ground in frustration, sending a plume of dust into the air. Stirling was 24 at the time.

Reprieved, the pair continued to prosper and raised their stand to 100 in 36 overs. Compton reached three-figures from 232 balls when he turned Harmer to midwicket shortly before the end of the second session. He had hit 12 fours and a six.

Stirling went to his fifty from 137 balls with a six over long-leg off Lawrence, but perished in the next over, caught at leg slip by Ravi Bopara to give Harmer wicket No4.

John Simpson joined Compton in his marathon vigil and they nudged runs past the six-man close-catching cordon in a stand of 35 before the ball angled off the wicketkeeper’s bat to give Cook another catch at slip and Harmer yet another wicket.

When the final hour was signalled at 8pm, five more wickets were required and Middlesex needed 49 runs to pass the 296 to make Essex bat again. After Compton’s departure, the furthest of Essex’s fielders was 20 yards from the bat.

As the game entered its denouement, Ryan Higgins edged Harmer to slip, and in the same over had Ollie Rayner lbw as 261 for six became 261 for eight in the space of four balls.

A third wicket went down for no additional score as Lawrence prevented Harmer taking all 10 wickets when he had Toby Roland-Jones lbw. There were six minutes of the last hour remaining, and two minutes on the clock when Steven Finn played a half-hearted shot and went lbw and Essex had won.

Day Four | Tea Report

Stirling enjoyed another life on 24 at the start of the second session when Dan Lawrence, at short-leg, put down a catch offered against Harmer.

When Mohammad Amir joined the attack, Compton drove him through the covers twice in an over but like his partner experienced sever anxious moment against Harmer.

The Essex spinner employed four close fielders in front of the bat but Compton and Stirling fought gallantly to put together a century stand in 36 overs.

In doing so they defied the attempts of six bowlers to remove them and Essex’s hopes of a fifth Championship victory.

As the visitors continued to edge towards safety, Compton completed a fine century, it arriving from 232 deliveries and contained 12 fours and a six.

In the next over Stirling launched Lawrence for six to collect his second half-century of the match. It came from 137 balls and also included five fours.

But immediately afterwards he was caught at leg slip by Bopara to earn Harmer his fourth success.

But Compton was still there at Tea on 104 when Middlesex stood on 211 for 4 and still requiring a further 85 to avoid an innings defeat.

Day Four | Lunch Report

Simon Harmer was spinning leaders Essex towards victory in their County Championship Division One battle against Middlesex at Chelmsford.

After the visitors had resumed on 27 without loss in pursuit of 296 to make Essex bat again, Harmer struck three times while 24 were added.

His first delivery of the day removed Nick Gubbins as he pushed forward and was snapped up at first slip by Alastair Cook.

When the offspinner later picked up wickets in successive overs, the first thanks to lightening reactions from Varun Chopra.

When Stevie Eskinazi edged to slip, Cook failed to hold on to an edge and Chopra, stationed at leg slip made a brilliant diving catch.

That success came with the total on 49, and two runs later Harmer collected his eighth wicket of the match by bowling Dawid Malan.

Nick Compton and Paul Stirling were to spearhead a Middlesex revival by carrying the total into three figures.

Stirling did survive a life on 19 when Cook failed to hold on to a sharp chance at slip offered by Paul Walter, before Compton completed a fighting half-century from 111 balls.

The pair were still together at Lunch taken at 113-3, with Compton 54 and Stirling on 21.

Harmer’s labours in the opening session brought him his three wickets at a cost of 46 from 16 overs.

Day Three | Match Highlights

Day Three | Close of Play Report

Alastair Cook and Nick Browne rewrote a plethora of records in a first-wicket stand of 373 that thoroughly demoralised reigning champions Middlesex on the third day of the day-night Specsavers County Championship match at Chelmsford.

Cook contributed 193, Browne 221, before Essex declared on 542 for three, setting Middlesex 296 just to make the Division One leaders bat again. Openers Nick Gubbins and Nick Compton survived a torrid 13 overs under the floodlights against Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter, but Middlesex need to bat resolutely throughout the final day to avoid a second defeat in three games.

It was Cook’s third century of the season, and was just two runs short of his highest score in a Championship career that began 14 years ago. After eight Championship outings this summer, Cook now heads off on England duty and the first Test against South Africa at Lord’s next Thursday. He goes with 667 first-class runs to his name at an average of 66.70.

Meanwhile, the last three times Browne has gone past three-figures he has more than doubled his tally. This was his first century of a season that started slowly, but which is now moving into overdrive.

The partnership was finally ended after six and a half hours, just before tea, when Cook pushed forward to Ollie Rayner and was snaffled by Stevie Eskinazi at slip. Cook had faced 280 balls and hit 26 fours.

And as daylight turned to twilight Varun Chopra set up Essex’s declaration with a big-hitting 100 not out from 75 balls, which included six sixes, all off Rayner.

At various points on a cold, grey day, the pair ticked off records before eclipsing the all-time best for an Essex opening stand: the 316 set by Graham Gooch and Paul Prichard against Kent on the same ground in 1994.

Cook, who was dropped on 48 on Monday evening, survived another scare even before play started when James Foster parried the ball into his face during catching practice. The England opener fell to his knees, and stayed there for several minutes while medical staff checked his jaw. However, he was back in the middle 35 minutes later to resume his innings as if nothing had happened.

Records apart, it was a partnership of exemplary batsmanship from the Essex openers. The ball sped to the boundary so frequently, they became almost routine.

Like his partner, Browne received a let-off on 46 when he slashed at Toby Roland-Jones outside off-stump and Steven Finn dropped a relatively easy chance at third slip. Browne took advantage and reached his fourth Championship fifty in five innings with his sixth four, pushed through the covers.

Cook glided Ryan Higgins to fine leg for the single that took him to three-figures. His century, which included 17 fours, took him 134 balls. That was 16 balls less than Browne required for his half-century, and told the story of the partnership.

When they passed 209, they broke the record Essex first-wicket stand against Middlesex, beating the previous best set by Frederick Fane and Johnny Douglas at Leyton in 1906.

At 233, they had passed the record of Percy Perrin and Charlie McGahey for any wicket against Middlesex, set in 1905 at Lord’s.

Later, at 372, they beat the total for any wicket in an Essex versus Middlesex encounter, which stood to Mike Gatting and Justin Langer at Southgate in 1998.

Browne, who went to the first interval on 97, followed Cook to his ton when he pulled Paul Stirling through deep extra cover for four. It was his 13th boundary and came from 240 balls.

The batsmen were particularly severe when the new-ball was taken. Browne hit Roland-Jones for three boundaries in an over, and Cook straight-drove him for another in the next to pass 150 from 220 balls.

A two to midwicket by Browne off Higgins took the pair beyond 316, which earnt a round of applause from a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd.

The carnage continued and Browne swept Ollie Rayner for his 18th boundary to reach his 150 from 323 balls. With Cook gone, the otherwise circumspect Browne allowed himself the luxury of chipping Dawid Malan over the bowler’s head for six to enter the 190s. A push into the onside brought up Browne’s double-hundred from 368 balls.

Chopra, the substitute replacing the England Lions-bound Tom Westley, followed suit with a six off Rayner over cow corner. Nick Compton might have ended his rampage on 39, but he dropped a diving chance on the midwicket boundary.

Chopra’s fifty arrived with an identical six off Rayner and had taken just 51 balls. He was not finished there.

Browne’s seven-hour 32-minute marathon ended when he hit Rayner into the covers and was caught by Malan. Rayner bore the brunt of Chopra’s onslaught and finished with two for 152 from 29 overs.

The departure of Browne precipitated something of a collapse as Dan Lawrence lasted just five balls before moving away from his stumps to give himself room and being bowled by Higgins.

Day Three | Tea Report

Alastair Cook and Nick Browne put Middlesex to the sword in a first-innings stand of 373 that rewrote a number of records as it continued to mount during the third day of the day-night Specsavers County Championship match at Chelmsford.

By the time they reached the second interval, Essex were 129 ahead of Middlesex’s first-innings 246. The question then was when they should declare to give themselves the best possible chance of bowling the Middlesex out and gaining their fifth win of the season.

For Cook his 193 was his third century of the season, and was just two runs short of his highest score in a Championship career that began 14 years ago. For his younger partner, it was Browne’s first ton of a summer in which his scores have moved in an upward trajectory after a disappointing start. He was 172 not out at tea.

At various points on a cold, grey day, the pair beat the records for the first-wicket for Essex against Middlesex, then for any Essex wicket in the fixture, before eclipsing the best for an Essex opening stand against any opposition, the 316 set by Graham Gooch and Paul Prichard against Kent on the same ground in 1994.

Gooch and Prichard’s names were also in danger of being removed for Essex’s highest partnership for any wicket – the 403 against Leicestershire at Chelmsford in 1990.

Cook, who was dropped on 48 on Monday evening, survived another scare even before play started when James Foster parried the ball into his face during catching practice. The England opener fell to his knees, and stayed there for several minutes while medical staff checked his jaw. However, he was back in the middle 35 minutes later to resume his innings as if nothing had happened.

Records apart, it was a partnership of exemplary batsmanship from the Essex openers. The ball sped to the boundary so frequently, they were barely applauded.

Browne received a let-off on 46 when he slashed at Toby Roland-Jones outside off-stump and Steven Finn dropped a relatively routine chance at third slip. Browne took advantage and reached his fourth Championship fifty in five innings with his sixth four, pushed through the covers.

Cook glided Ryan Higgins to fine leg for the single that took him to three-figures. His century, which included 17 fours, took him 134 balls. That was 16 balls less than Browne required for his half-century, and told the story of the partnership.

When they passed 209, they broke the record Essex first-wicket stand against Middlesex, beating the previous best set by Frederick Fane and Johnny Douglas at Leyton in 1906.

At 233, they had passed the record of Percy Perrin and Charlie McGahey for any wicket against Middlesex, set in 1905 at Lord’s.

Browne, who went to the first interval on 97, followed Cook to his ton when he pulled Paul Stirling through deep extra cover for four. It was his 13th boundary and came from 240 balls.

The batsmen were particularly severe when the new-ball was taken. Browne hit Roland-Jones for three boundaries in an over, and Cook straight-drove him for another in the next to pass 150 from 220 balls.

A two to midwicket by Browne off Higgins took the pair beyond 316, which earnt a round of applause from a knowledgeable and appreciative crowd.

The carnage continued and Browne swept Ollie Rayner for his 18th boundary to reach his 150 from 323 balls.

But the stand ended just before tea when Cook pushed forward at Rayner and was snaffled by Stevie Eskinazi at slip. He had batted for 280 balls, hit 26 fours and looked in imperious form.

Day Three | Lunch Report

Alastair Cook scored his third Championship century of the season as leaders Essex headed for a substantial first innings lead over Middlesex in their Division One clash at Chelmsford.

The England opener moved into three figures from 135 deliveries, 15 fewer than Nick Browne required to post his third successive half-century.

Following yesterday’s complete washout, Cook was soon handing out punishment when Essex resumed on 106 without loss in reply to their opponent’s 246.

Twice he square-cut Roland-Jones to the boundary and also took two boundaries off Tim Murtagh.

Browne became fluent, driving with increasing authority and bringing up the 200, and Essex’s first batting point, by pulling Roland-Jones to the boundary.

That stroke took Browne into the 80s and when the stand reached 209, it signalled the best opening stand against Middlesex.

By Lunch Essex had moved onto 226 with Cook on 125 and Browne within 3 runs of his first century of the season.

Day Two | Close of Play Report

After a frustrating second day at The Cloudfm County Ground, play was abandoned at 6:45pm. The players will be back on Wednesday for Day Three’s play with Cook (64*) and Browne (40*) resuming play.

Day One | Match Highlights

Day One | Close of Play Report

Simon Harmer became the leading wicket-taker in Division One this season when he added a third successive five-wicket haul as Essex skittled Middlesex for 246 in the day-night Specsavers County Championship at Chelmsford.

The South African off-spinner had just 19 wickets to his name a week ago, but has doubled that in three innings and now has 38 at 24.53 each. He followed up his career-best match figures of 14 for 128 against Warwickshire with five Middlesex wickets for 77.

It had looked unlikely that Harmer would have much impact on the match when Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter were swinging the pink ball prodigiously in the first 20 minutes, and Middlesex were two for two. But the ball suddenly softened and for a time it looked as if the batsmen were going to get on top.

But despite being thumped for sixes when Paul Stirling was in his pomp, Harmer reeled in the reigning champion’s middle-order. He took three wickets in 12 balls at a personal cost of one run to reduce Middlesex from 225 for six to 231 for nine.

Harmer’s only blip was to put down Stirling at second slip before the Irishman was fully into his stride. It was a routine catch at chest height for the usually reliable fielder. Stirling was 23; nine balls later he had reached 49. A further three balls and he had his third fifty-plus score in five Championship innings.

Dawid Malan and Steve Eskinazi had put on 126 for the third wicket at a steady pace, but it was during Stirling’s 50-ball 77, which included eight fours and five sixes, that it looked as though Middlesex might post something of note.

By close of play, at 9.17pm, Essex had taken a sizeable chunk out of Middlesex’s score with Alastair Cook and Nick Brown putting on an unbroken stand of 106 for the first wicket from 36 overs. Cook was 64, Browne 40.

The day-night experiment attracted a Chelmsford crowd that peaked around 2,200, slightly higher than usual, with the office staff replacing those who had trains to catch as the evening wore on.

Middlesex had given Essex first go with the pink cherry and must have regretted the decision almost immediately. Amir had his first Essex wicket on the board with the sixth ball of his opening spell, beating Nick Gubbins with one that came in and trapped him lbw. Five balls later, Nick Compton got one that held up and he snicked Porter behind.

Malan, captaining in the absence of James Franklin, who is suffering with a back complaint, led the Middlesex recovery with Eskinazi. Both batsmen reached their fifties in the first over after the first break, from successive balls. Malan scrambled a single to mid-on from the 78th ball he faced, Eskinazi from a paddle-sweep for his eighth four from 85 balls. They had been chanceless innings, bar the odd playing and missing, until Eskinazi, on 55, turned one through Dan Lawrence’s hands at short leg.

The third-wicket pair were finally parted after 33 overs when Simon Harmer got one to straighten and take the outside of Malan’s bat. Malan faced 93 deliveries for his 60.

Eskinazi followed soon after, edging Porter to Cook at first slip for a 111-ball 66. And Amir had John Simpson shuffled tentatively on to his back foot to be plumb lbw as Middlesex slipped from 126 for two to 158 for five in five overs.

Stirling decided that the best way to deal with Harmer was to hit to leg, and he did so to great effect. At the other end Ryan Higgins contributed just six to a sixth-wicket stand of 61. The young Zimbabwean then had a rush of blood and hit Harmer up in the air so high that Tom Westley covered the 20 yards from mid-on to mid-off and still had time to steady himself.

Stirling continued unabated and at one stage had hit three sixes in six balls, hooking two of them in an over from Paul Walter, and lifting Harmer straight back over the bowler’s head. But the one-man assault ended when he turned Harmer into Ryan ten Doeschate’s hands at cover.

Ollie Rayner left in similar fashion in the same over, and Harmer had a fifth wicket in his next over when Tim Murtagh was another lbw victim. The innings ended in its 60th over when Steven Finn patted the ball back to Ravi Bopara.

Cook and Browne went along serenely in reply with the England opener making the most of the experience of batting in the twilight. He was dropped in the covers by Gubbins off Finn on 48 before bringing up his fourth Championship score of more than fifty from 67 balls, nine of them hit to the boundary.

Day One | Tea Report

Simon Harmer followed up his fourteen-wicket spree against Warwickshire last week with another five-wicket haul to roll over Middlesex for 246 in the day-night Specsavers County Championship match at Chelmsford.

The South African off-spinner profited most from the first use of the pink ball in domestic cricket as he returned figures of five for 77 from his 20 overs. In his pomp he took three wickets for one run in 12 balls to reduce Middlesex from 225 for six to 231 for nine.

Paul Stirling, Middlesex’s Irish middle-order batsman, ruined Harmer’s analysis during a 50-ball 77 that included eight fours and five sixes. It followed his 111 against Yorkshire in Middlesex’s first win of the season last week.

The reigning champions had looked set fair with a third-wicket stand of 126 between Dawid Malan and Steve Eskinazi after they had slipped to two for two in the third over.

Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter had been almost unplayable in the first 20 minutes as the ball swung prodigiously. Middlesex had given Essex first go with the pink cherry and must have regretted the decision in the short-term.

Amir had his first Essex wicket on the board with the sixth ball of his opening spell, beating Nick Gubbins with one that came in and trapped him lbw. Five balls later, Nick Compton got one that held up and snicked Porter behind.

Malan, captaining in the absence of James Franklin, who is suffering with a back complaint, led the Middlesex recovery as the ball suddenly grew softer and lost its earlier movement and menace.

Malan hooked a shorter one that Amir sent down to test the bounce, and later drove Porter through mid-off for four to set the revised tone. When Amir returned for a second spell, Eskinazi greeted him with two crisp drives to the cover boundary that had the Pakistani howling in frustration.

Both batsmen reached their fifties in the first over after the first break, from successive balls. Malan scrambled a single to mid-on from the 78th ball he faced, Eskinazi from a paddle-sweep for his eighth four from 85 balls. They had been chanceless innings, bar the odd playing and missing, until Eskinazi, on 55, turned one through Dan Lawrence’s hands at short leg.

The second-wicket pair had put on 126 in 33 overs when Simon Harmer got one to straighten and take the outside of Malan’s bat for James Foster to pouch. Malan had hit his 11th boundary the previous ball and in all faced 93 deliveries.

Eskinazi followed soon after, edging Porter to Alastair Cook at first slip for a 111-ball 66. And Amir had John Simpson shuffled tentatively on to his back foot and was pinned plumb in front as Middlesex slipped from 126 for two to 158 for five in five overs.

Stirling decided that the best way to deal with Harmer was to hit to leg. He lofted a six over cow corner and then swept square for four. But he was given a life on 23 when he was dropped by the normally reliable Harmer at second slip off Amir. It proved costly: 12 balls later Stirling was raising his bat for his fifty, having hit six fours and two sixes.

Ryan Higgins stood at the other end and contributed just six to a sixth-wicket stand of 61. The young Zimbabwean then had a rush of blood and hit Harmer up in the air so high that Tom Westley covered the 20 yards from mid-on to mid-off and still had time to steady himself to take the catch.

Stirling continued unabated and at one stage had hit three sixes in six balls, hooking two of them square in an over from Paul Walter, and lifting Harmer straight back over the bowler’s head.

But the one-man assault ended when he turned Harmer into Ryan ten Doeschate’s hands at cover for a 50-ball 77, and Ollie Rayner went in similar fashion in the same over. Harmer had a fifth wicket in his next over when Tim Murtagh was another lbw victim.

The innings ended in its 60th over when Ravi Bopara caught and bowled Steven Finn.

Day One | Lunch Report

Dawid Malan and Steve Eskinazi righted the Middlesex ship with an unbroken stand of 104 after they lost both openers in the first three overs with the new pink ball in the day-night Specsavers County Championship match at Chelmsford.

Mohammad Amir and Jamie Porter were almost unplayable in the first 20 minutes as the ball swung prodigiously. Middlesex had given Essex first go with the pink cherry and must have regretted the decision in the short-term.

Amir had his first Essex wicket on the board with the sixth ball of his opening spell, beating Nick Gubbins with one that came in and trapped him lbw. Five balls later, Nick Compton got one that held up and snicked Porter behind. Middlesex were two for two in the third over.

Malan, captaining in the absence of James Franklin, who is suffering with a back complaint, led the Middlesex recovery as the ball suddenly grew softer and lost its earlier movement and menace.

Malan hooked a shorter one that Amir sent down to test the bounce, and later drove Porter through mid-off for four to set the revised tone. His fifth four, punched through mid-on, took Middlesex to 50 in the 13th over.

When Amir returned for a second spell, Eskinazi greeted him with two crisp drives to the cover boundary that had the Pakistani howling in frustration. However, the Middlesex No3 was fortunate not to lay a bat on one that swung away from him shortly before the interval. At that point Malan was 49, Eskinazi 47 and Middlesex 106 for two.