Essex: Nick Browne, Feroze Khushi, Tom Westley (c), Robin Das, Luc Benkenstein, Noah Thain, Simon Fernandes (wk), Shane Snater, Jamal Richards, Ben Allison, Aaron Beard.
Glamorgan: Eddie Byrom, Will Smale (wk), Sam Northeast, Kiran Carlson (c), Billy Root, Asa Tribe, Tom Bevan, Dan Douthwaite, Andy Gorvin, Jamie McIlroy, Ben Morris.
Match Details
Umpires: Ben Debenham & Phil Mustard Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Kevin Probert Toss: Essex win the toss and bowl
Match Reaction: Jamal Richards
Match Highlights
Match Report
Ben Morris blasted a hole in the Essex middle-order to introduce himself on to the first-team stage as Glamorgan maintained their 100 per cent record in this season’s Metro Bank One-Day Cup at Chelmsford.
A year after making his Glamorgan debut in the competition, the 20-year-old seamer grabbed his maiden List A wickets in only his third appearance with figures of 3/52 as Essex struggled to 251 and defeat by 32 runs. He was the perfect foil to his more experienced fellow seamer Jamie McIlroy, who took late wickets to register a career-best 3/33.
Essex were so close to their second win of the season was thanks to a record last-wicket stand of 68 in nine overs between Ben Allison (26) and Aaron Beard (42 not out) that would have embarrassed some of their batting superiors.
Essex had to chase 284 was largely down to Sam Northeast, who cemented Glamorgan’s innings with a 93-ball 89. He was ably supported in stands of 74 and 71 stands by Billy Root and Asa Tribe respectively.
Northeast was eventually out after two hours and 15 minutes, one of seven wickets in which Essex rookie wicketkeeper Simon Fernandes was involved – five catches behind the stumps and two run-outs. Shane Snater took three Glamorgan wickets for 46 and Jamal Richards posted List A best figures of 3/68 as Glamorgan ran up 283.
Essex put in Glamorgan on a green-tinged wicket of considerable bounce and carry early on before flattening out. Snater exploited the conditions and had Eddie Byrom caught behind off one that hissed and fizzed during a personal sequence of 12 scoreless deliveries.
Glamorgan captain Kiran Carlson hung around for 11 overs for 13 in a 54-run partnership with Will Smale. But his eyes lit up at a half-volley from Richards that he flashed low into extra cover’s hands. Smale stroked seven fours in an attractive 43, but departed lbw to one from Richards that nipped back.
Northeast and Root looked unperturbed in a stand of 74 that spanned 16 overs until Root pushed Tom Westley for a risky single to mid-on. Northeast showed no interest, turning his back, Root kept running, Snater dived and threw to the striker’s end to complete the run-out by more than half the pitch.
As the wicket flattened out, Tribe helped Northeast add another 71 in 10 overs until he tried to work Ben Allison down to third man and edged behind. Snater claimed his second wicket soon after when Tom Bevan sliced high and Fernandes made ground to take the catch at short fine leg.
Douthwaite hit Richards for 24 in an over, including two sixes, but that precipitated a collapse of four wickets in 22 balls for 17 runs. At the start of the next over, Northeast attempted to cut Allison and was caught behind. Fernandes claimed a fifth catch when Andy Gorvin went to ramp Snater, and then ran out Douthwaite with a direct hit. Morris departed first ball to a catch at fine leg for Richards’s third wicket.
Essex, missing bright hope Charlie Allison to a hamstring injury, were quickly in trouble. Glamorgan bowled four maidens in the first nine overs, by which time they had sent back openers Feroze Khushi and Nick Browne as well as Robin Das. Khushi got a leading edge to third man against Douthwaite, Browne hoicked Jamie McIlroy to mid-on and Das skied Douthwaite towards square leg where wicketkeeper Smale ran round to pouch.
Sixteen dot balls followed Das’s dismissal before Douthwaite conceded 17 in the 10th over, including three delightful cover drives by Benkenstein, who contributed to Carlson leaking 10 more in the next to drag Essex back into the game.
Benkenstein put on 61 for the fourth wicket with Westley, hitting six fours in his 41-ball 39 before misjudging one from Gorvin that kept low. Noah Thain hung around for 19 balls before taking a swing at Morris and holed out in the deep.
Morris claimed his second scalp the ball after Westley had pulled him for four to reach a 72-ball half-century, and then had Fernandes bowled playing over a delivery.
School’s out, cricket’s in: 50-over cricket in Chelmsford this summer
White-ball action at The Cloud County Ground continues into August as the Metro Bank One Day Cup group stage reaches a climax.
The competition has not only recently proven itself to be wide open and highly competitive, but also a breeding ground for the next generation of elite cricketers.
Taking place during the school summer holidays, the Eagles’ final home group-stage fixture makes a perfect family day out in the heart of Chelmsford.
Friday 09 August, 2:00pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Alongside the offering of men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup action, The Cloud County Ground will also host one more Women’s London Championship match during the summer holidays.
Wednesday 14 August, 11:00am: Essex Women v Sussex – buy here
Captain Kelly Castle’s battling 28 not out was not enough for Essex to chase 136 against Sussex in the first match of a Vitality Women’s County T20 double-header at Harpenden CC.
Castle hit her runs off 27 balls and found support from Jasmine Westley’s 24, but Anna Buckle and Beth Harvey each claimed two wickets as the Sharks restricted Essex to 116-5 in reply to their 135-5.
Grace Poole had earlier sent down a restrictive four overs in which she conceded just nine runs, but Sussex’s total proved to be enough as Chiara Green made a 26-ball 48 and Nancy Harman hit 43.
Umpires: J Holland & J Watson-Humphries Scorers: J Johnson & T Ruxton Toss: Hertfordshire won the toss and elected to bowl first Result: Hertfordshire won by seven wickets
Essex were defeated again at Harpenden CC as Hertfordshire successfully chased a low target of 90 to win by seven wickets.
Coming off the back of a loss to Sussex, the Eagles were dismissed in 16.4 overs, with only captain Kelly Castle passing 20 as Mabel Reid returned figures of 3/22 from four overs.
Amu Surenkumar then bowled three overs to take 2/19 as the standout Essex bowler, but Hertfordshire captain Kezia Hassall underpinned a successful chase in 13 overs with an unbeaten 27.
School’s out, cricket’s in: 50-over cricket in Chelmsford this summer
White-ball action at The Cloud County Ground continues into July and August as the Metro Bank One-Day Cup gets underway.
The competition has not only recently proven itself to be wide open and highly competitive, but also a breeding ground for the next generation of elite cricketers.
With all matches set to take place during the school summer holidays, each fixture makes a perfect family day out in the heart of Chelmsford.
Wednesday 31 July, 11:00am: Essex v Leicestershire Foxes – buy here Sunday 04 August, 11:00am: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here Friday 09 August, 2:00pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Alongside the offering of men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup action, The Cloud County Ground will also host one more Women’s London Championship match during the summer holidays.
Wednesday 14 August, 11:00am: Essex Women v Sussex – buy here
Essex: Adam Rossington+, Dean Elgar, Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Simon Harmer*, Luc Benkenstein, Eathan Bosch, Shane Snater, Sam Cook.
Surrey: Will Jacks, Dom Sibley, Laurie Evans, Rory Burns, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Jordan Clark, Chris Jordan*, Cameron Steel, Tom Lawes, Dan Worrall.
Match Details
Umpires: Rob Bailey & Hassan Adnan Match Referee: Jason Swift Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Debbie Beesley Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first Result: Surrey won by 13 runs
Adam Rossington’s 78 off 49 was not enough for Essex to chase down a target of 190 as Surrey eked out a 13-run Vitality Blast win at The Cloud County Ground.
Will Jacks belted 86 from 46, a knock that included five sixes, but despite Simon Harmer’s three wickets keeping Surrey below 200, the visitors were able to defend their 189-9.
After winning the toss and opting to chase, Essex found some early joy as Dom Sibley was trapped lbw by Shane Snater for 12.
That was the only wicket in the first six overs, as Jacks hammered his way through the powerplay, but it was in fact the end of the fielding restrictions that brought about a collapse.
Matt Critchley bowled Laurie Evans for 13 three balls into the seventh over, before Simon Harmer followed up by taking two in two to see off Rory Burns and Sam Curran.
That left Surrey 88-4 at the halfway point, and Critchley had Jamie Overton held by Eathan Bosch in the deep for 14 three balls later to take a fifth before they had passed three figures.
Jacks remained undeterred, posting his fifty in 28 balls with a six to start the 12th over, as part of a 63 stand with Jordan Clark, steering the visitors beyond 150.
He went for one big shot too many in the 16th though as, having motored to 86 via consecutive further maximums, he was caught by Charlie Allison at midwicket to give Harmer his third scalp.
Further dismissals of Clark, Chris Jordan, and Tom Lawes kept Surrey in check, although a late breezy cameo from Cameron Steel pulled them to a total that could fairly be described as challenging.
The Eagles enjoyed an exceptionally similar powerplay to Surrey’s, with the loss of only one wicket, as Rossington and Michael Pepper hauled the score to 87-1 off the first nine overs.
Pepper was not quite able to match his heroics at Sussex yesterday as Cameron Steel removed him for an 18-ball 27.
A flurry of strikes from Rossington, including one particular pull that took him to a 33-ball fifty, kept the score moving, though wickets were falling to put Essex on 124-5 after one ball of the 15th over.
The key moment was the dismissal of Rossington, caught by Jamie Overton off Sam Curran, and despite Luc Benkenstein’s late 27, the target proved just beyond the Eagles.
50-over cricket in Chelmsford this summer
White-ball action at The Cloud County Ground continues into July and August as the Metro Bank One-Day Cup gets underway.
The competition has not only recently proven itself to be wide open and highly competitive, but also a breeding ground for the next generation of elite cricketers.
With all four matches set to take place during the school summer holidays, each fixture makes a perfect family day out in the heart of Chelmsford.
Wednesday 24 July, 11:00am: Essex v Warwickshire – buy here Wednesday 31 July, 11:00am: Essex v Leicestershire Foxes – buy here Sunday 04 August, 11:00am: Essex v Glamorgan – buy here Friday 09 August, 2:00pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Alongside the offering of men’s Metro Bank One Day Cup action, The Cloud County Ground will also host two Women’s London Championship matches during the summer holidays.
Friday 26 July, 11:00am: Essex Women v Kent – buy here Wednesday 14 August, 11:00am: Essex Women v Sussex – buy here
Sussex Sharks: Daniel Hughes, Harrison Ward, Tom Clark, James Coles, John Simpson+, Tom Alsop, Danny Lamb, Nathan McAndrew, Jack Carson, Ollie Robinson, Tymal Mills*
Essex: Adam Rossington+, Dean Elgar, Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Robin Das, Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Simon Harmer*, Eathan Bosch, Shane Snater, Sam Cook
Match Details
Umpires: Hassan Adnan & Jack Shantry Match Referee: Dean Cosker Scorers: Graham Irwin & Paul Parkinson Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first Result: Essex won by five wickets
Michael Pepper’s stunning second century of the 2024 Vitality Blast led Essex to a sensational five-wicket win over high-flying Sussex in Hove.
Pepper, who has shone brightly in this year’s competition, hammered 120 from 53, with his ton taking just 46 balls as the Eagles overhauled a challenging target of 208 in 18.3 overs.
Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark’s earlier speedy knocks for the hosts of 81 in 43 deliveries and 72 from 52, respectively, had seen the Sharks post 207-2.
However, Pepper’s efforts, in conjunction with Charlie Allison’s 44 from 26, meant that Essex came away with a hugely important two points as the jostle for quarter-final qualification reaches a climax.
The duo also put on an unbroken partnership of 114 and completed a sensational win when Pepper flicked Danny Lamb for four in the penultimate over.
Having been put in after Essex won the toss, the hosts, underpinned by Australian opener Hughes, made a confident start that put them on 94-1 at the halfway point.
Shane Snater removed Harrison Ward, who miscued to Dean Elgar at mid-off for 15, but that aside, Essex found the first half of the innings tough going, especially where Hughes was concerned.
The experienced New South Welshman hit a 50 that included five fours and three sixes in 26 balls, posting the landmark by cutting Snater for a single just before the ten-over mark.
With Tom Clark for company after Ward’s departure, he continued to press on, hitting boundaries in all of the next four overs, but his stumping off Matt Critchley ensured there would be no century.
Overconfidence finally got the better of Hughes by the time he faced the fifth ball of Critchley’s second over, and his mighty slog sweep attempt was beaten, allowing Adam Rossington to whip the bails off.
His innings had lasted just 43 deliveries, and the mantle was picked up by Clark after his dismissal to maintain Sussex’s momentum, with the 23-year-old becoming the second Sharks batter to fifty.
He did so in slightly more emphatic fashion than Hughes, hitting down the ground for four to reach the milestone in 42 balls, proceeding to underpin the second half of the innings alongside Tom Alsop.
There was no further joy with the ball for the visitors, as Sussex pushed past 200 in the final over, their second score above that mark in the space of 24 hours, to set an extremely challenging target.
An early wicket in the first over, that of Rossington, gave Essex a difficult start to their efforts to overhaul it, but the in-form Michael Pepper’s blasting in the powerplay ensured the reply was swift.
Either side of the bizarre dismissal of Dean Elgar for 11, bowled by Tymal Mills as the ball brushed off stump but somehow knocked the other bail off, Pepper leathered six boundaries in the first six overs.
That included two sixes, but the wickets that were falling at the other end – Robin Das and Paul Walter in successive balls – meant that Essex were in a difficult spot at 61-4 at the end of the powerplay.
However, after Critchley became the fifth man to go to leave the Eagles 90-5 just before halfway, Pepper put on a stunning display of pyrotechnics to charge towards the target.
Having belted a superb century against Middlesex a little under six weeks ago, he matched that and more by going to a ton in 46 balls and then blasting six more to mark a new career high score.
Although naturally playing the supporting role, Allison was not to be outdone, either, as he displayed his full range of shots to take 20 off one Jack Carson over.
His knock was comfortably a new career-best in T20 cricket, but so too was Pepper’s, and together, their partnership handed the Eagles one of their most sensational wins of recent years.
It was a new record T20 sixth-wicket partnership for Essex, as well as the team’s second-highest successful T20 chase in history.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.
With the Eagles sitting in fourth, and firmly in contention for another knockout match as the group stage reaches its climax, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.
As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Essex: Dean Elgar, Adam Rossington (wk), Michael Pepper, Robin Das, Paul Walter, Matt Critchley, Charlie Allison, Simon Harmer (c), Luc Benkenstein, Ben Allison, Aaron Beard
Glamorgan: Kiran Carlson (c), Will Smale, Tom Bevan, Marnus Labuschagne, Colin Ingram, Chris Cooke (wk), Ben Kellaway, Dan Douthwaite, Timm van der Gugten, Mason Crane, Chris Sole
Match Details
Umpires: Rob White & Ben Peverall Match Referee: Simon Hinks Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first Result: Glamorgan won by 26 runs
Glamorgan made it back-to-back wins in the Vitality Blast with a 26 run victory over Essex in Cardiff. Middle order runs and a brilliant bowling display helped them close out their fourth win of the tournament.
Having been put in to bat, Glamorgan scored 182 for eight with Colin Ingram top scoring with 47. He was well supported by Marnus Labuschagne and Chris Cooke to set Essex a stiff target.
An excellent stand between Adam Rossington and Paul Walter looked to be taking Essex to victory before Labuschagne and Mason Crane choked the life out of the chase to give Glamorgan the win.
Essex were bowled out for 156 with the highest score coming from Walter who made 53.
Essex kept Glamorgan guessing with their bowling changes in the first part of their innings, with eight bowling changes in the first eight overs. Mixing up the bowling seemed with work with 43 runs and two wickets coming from the PowerPlay.
Both Glamorgan openers fell early with Will Smale top edging a sweep shot off Simon Harmer that was caught inside the circle by Robin Das and Kiran Carlson dismissed for 11 when he edged a ball from Ben Allison through to Adam Rossington.
A stand of 49 between Tom Bevan and Marnus Labuschagne helped Glamorgan recover from the loss of their openers inside the PowerPlay but Bevan departed when he nicked Matt Critchley to Rossington for 23.
The experienced trio of Labuschagne, Ingram and Cooke were the reason Glamorgan got to a competitive total with all three players making significant contributions. Labuschagne made 30 from 26 balls that steadied things after the loss of early wickets. He was dismissed when he missed a sweep shot and was bowled by Critchley.
Ingram and Cooke combined for the highest stand of the Glamorgan innings, scoring 67 runs for the fourth wicket. Ingram was the highest scorer in the innings but it was Cooke who was the most destructive, scoring 38 runs from just 18 balls. Both fell in the pursuit of quick runs at the death, with Cooke departing to a fantastic catch from Ben Allison on the boundary that robbed him of another six.
The Essex innings started with Timm van der Gugten claiming three early wickets to leave the visitors 27 for three. Van der Gugten trapped Dean Elgar lbw for 4 before bowling Michael Pepper and having Robin Das caught behind.
The target seemed a long way away at that point but a brilliant partnership of 83 between Rossington and Walter brought Essex back into the game. Walter was the main contributor, making 53 of those runs from just 33 balls before he was dismissed by Dan Douthwaite.
Rossington fell in the very next over when he skied an attempted sweep off Labuschagne’s leg spin and he was caught by the bowler for 43 to leave Essex 113 for five.
From there Crane and Labuschagne strangled the Essex middle order as the run rate kept climbing. The two leg spinners combined for eight overs for the cost of just 48 runs and claiming five wickets between them as Essex were bowled out a long way short of the target.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.
With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.
As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Umpires: Ben Debenham & Jack Shantry Match Referee: Alec Swann Scorers: Paul Parkinson & Polly Rhodes Toss: No toss made Result: Match abandoned without a ball bowled
Essex’s home match against Somerset at The Cloud County Ground has been abandoned without a ball bowled.
Prolonged heavy rainfall in the build-up delayed the start, and with no sign of the weather improving, the decision was made by the umpires to call the match off shortly after 7:30pm.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.
With the Eagles on a three-match unbeaten run and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.
As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.
Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Sunday 30 June – Wednesday 03 July 2024 | 11am start
Team News
Essex: Dean Elgar, Nick Browne, Tom Westley*, Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper+, Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Eathan Bosch, Jamie Porter
Surrey: Rory Burns*, Dom Sibley, Sai Sudharsan, Jamie Smith, Ben Foakes+, Dan Lawrence, Ryan Patel, Jordan Clark, Tom Lawes, James Taylor, Dan Worrall
Match Details
Umpires: Peter Hartley & Graham Lloyd Match Referee: James Whitaker Scorers: Debbie Beesley & Paul Parkinson Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first Result: Surrey won by 145 runs
Battling half-centuries from Paul Walter and Dean Elgar were not enough to rescue Essex from falling to a gutting 145-run defeat to Surrey on the final day at The Kia Oval.
Despite the considerable fight shown by the Eagles on the last day, with a requirement of 361 runs for a win or 96 overs to bat out for a draw, the visitors were bowled out for 215 shortly before 5pm.
Elgar battled to 60, while Walter made 56, but Essex, having resumed on 21-2, were ultimately unable to hold out as Tom Lawes returned figures of 4/26.
At first, there was genuine reason to believe that the Eagles might be about to battle through, with Elgar and captain Tom Westley surviving throughout a truncated morning session and beyond lunch.
Just as they had done against Durham a week previously, the duo steadfastly blocked out whatever Surrey were throwing at them, and also once got lucky as Elgar was shelled by Dom Sibley in the slips.
However, a crucial turning point came shortly before 2:00pm as Lawes struck twice in two balls to see off Westley and Matt Critchley, both via Ben Foakes catches behind the stumps.
Damaging as those blows were, that still left Elgar unbeaten at the crease, and he continued to graft on, now with Walter for company, passing fifty via a flicked three towards the long leg-side fence.
Despite passing that milestone, the former South Africa Test captain was eventually uprooted after swiping a Dan Worrall bouncer to Sai Sudharsan just in from the square leg boundary.
Walter aimed to take up the mantle, and indeed alongside Michael Pepper either side of tea, looked to take the attack back to Surrey, swiping several fours to put on 64 for the sixth wicket in just 65 balls.
It was the tea interruption that did for Pepper, though, as he fell six deliveries after the restart, and when Walter followed, the end was ultimately nigh to a swift conclusion despite the light drawing in.
Day Three Highlights
Day Three Reaction: Jamie Porter
Day Three Report
Jamie Porter hit the milestone of 500 first-class wickets on Day Three against Surrey at The Kia Oval, but Essex were left facing a fight to rescue the sides’ Vitality County Championship clash.
Porter hit the landmark shortly after tea, a full 3,584 days since he took his maiden first-class scalp in September 2014, as Jordan Clark swatted a short ball to Eathan Bosch at third.
The celebration, however, was somewhat forcibly muted by circumstance, as Surrey, having resumed their second innings on 44-3, ultimately went on to post 278 all out as Ryan Patel hit 107.
That meant Essex were set 361 to win, and enormous though the task may be, Dean Elgar at least fought back somewhat by remaining unbeaten to stumps, seeing the visitors to 21-2.
Despite the claggy conditions, play still resumed on time, though rain did still define the early part of the day as Jamie Smith and Ben Foakes battled through multiple interruptions.
At one point, one of the resumptions was for a grand total of one ball, but – following an early lunch being taken at 12:45pm – a longer-term restart was at least possible just before 2:00pm.
Smith wasted little time in passing 50 for the second time in the game, though Foakes’ innings would proceed no further than 13, as he chopped Shane Snater to Simon Harmer at second slip.
Sai Sudharsan hung around with Smith for a little longer, but he too was unable to build on his early efforts as he edged Bosch to Michael Pepper for 12, just one over after Smith himself had gone for 70.
It was Paul Walter’s first ball, via an Aaron Beard catch, that finally did for new England recruit Smith, but that only served to bring Patel to the crease.
His swashbuckling approach served Surrey well, shepherding the tail to ultimately pass three figures in 122 balls and set Essex a far more challenging target than they otherwise would have faced.
Matt Critchley finally uprooted him for 107, ending the Surrey innings, and giving the Eagles 12 overs to face at the end of the day, with The Kia Oval by now bathed in surprisingly bright sunlight.
The home attack snared the wickets of Nick Browne and nightwatcher Bosch, though Elgar battled through with typical grit to at least force the Surrey bowlers to regroup ahead of tomorrow’s final day.
Day Two Highlights
Day Two Reaction: Anthony McGrath
Day Two Report
Another Paul Walter half-century followed by a slew of late wickets kept Essex fighting strongly against Surrey in the sides’ Vitality County Championship top-of-the-table tussle at The Kia Oval.
After the hosts had been bowled out for 262, Walter passed fifty for the second innings in succession following his century at home to Durham last week to haul the Eagles to a first-innings total of 180.
On an eventful day, bad light then interrupted the Surrey second dig twice, with the second being enough to draw a premature halt to proceedings, leaving the hosts on 44-3, a lead of 126.
With events unfolding overnight that saw Jordan Cox ruled out of the remainder of the game, Day Two began with Surrey on their overnight 248-8 as Essex set about the task of cleaning them up quickly.
The Eagles did exactly that as, in just 3.2 overs of using the second new ball, Shane Snater took both, first by having an advancing Tom Lawes held at slip by Simon Harmer before he bowled James Taylor.
Cox’s predicament meant that Essex would have to play through both of their innings a man down, but batting a place higher did not trouble Walter or Matt Critchley.
Having come together with Essex 45-3, the pair calmly doubled the score to allay any fears of a collapse, with both scoring noticeably freely after getting their respective eyes in.
The 50 partnership was brought up in just 60 balls, though Critchley was dismissed shortly afterwards while two shy of his half-century.
Walter battled on, even after bravely copping one on the arm from Jordan Clark, and received some support from Harmer and Eathan Bosch, which was enough to see him reach his 50 in 74 balls.
He did so via a four off Tom Lawes that involved Dan Lawrence shelling a simple chance, though his eventual dismissal for 64 precipitated the end, with the final wicket falling for just one more run.
Facing a first-innings deficit of 82, the Eagles seamers each put on a yard of pace and Jamie Porter secured joy early on by beating Dom Sibley’s outside edge and hitting his off stump for 11.
Shane Snater then followed up three overs later by having Harmer take a simple chest-high catch to remove home captain Rory Burns for 8, prior to the first interruption for low light levels.
The temporary resumption only lasted two overs, but that was enough for Bosch, in his second Essex appearance, to claim the wicket of Lawrence, who offered no shot and was pinned lbw for 10.
However, despite Essex hoping for further wickets, the light again dipped below an acceptable level, and the umpires took the players off once more, this time for much longer.
A short, four-over resumption was possible at the very end of the day after a small improvement, though there were no further wickets becoming for the Essex bowlers as Jamie Smith and Ben Foakes nervously tiptoed to the close.
Day One Highlights
Day One Report
Jamie Smith produced the perfect dress-rehearsal for his England debut on day one of their top of the table clash with Essex at The Kia Oval.
Named this morning as the only wicketkeeper in England’s 14 for the first Test against the West Indies a week on Wednesday, Smith struck his second century of the season, making exactly 100 with two sixes and 14 fours, as the hosts reached 248-8 on a rain-shortened day in south London.
Smith’s heroics apart, Surrey’s batters struggled against some probing bowling, South African quick Eathan Bosch returning 3-52 in only his second appearance for the county.
Play began on time after morning drizzle but only two overs were possible before the rain returned, forcing the players from the field until after an early lunch.
The delay helped the hosts who had been asked to bat first under slate grey skies which had largely dissipated by the early afternoon.
Even so former England opener Dominic Sibley produced a mixture of crisp drives off his pads with plenty of playing and missing outside off stump, and was given a life on 10 when Jamie Porter shelled one at backward point, Shane Snater the unlucky bowler.
The spill wasn’t overly expensive as Sibley reached only 24 before swishing one from Bosch to Dean Elgar at first slip.
Dan Lawrence, also named in the England squad, fluffed his lines, producing one glorious cover drive before fencing at one from Bosch which bounced a bit off a length caught the edge and flew to Simon Harmer’s giant hands at second slip.
Harmer would spill a more routine chance to reprieve Rory Burns on 25, Snater again the luckless bowler, but like Sibley before him the Surrey skipper didn’t cash in, nicking one from Paul Walter in the next over to Michael Pepper behind the stumps.
His dismissal brought Ben Foakes to the crease, the wicketkeeper, not for the first time, callously cast aside by Rob Key in favour of his teammate Smith. Tellingly, Surrey named Foakes as keeper despite Smith’s promotion to the role in the national side. Smith has only kept wicket twice for Surrey this season, one of those appearances coming in Foakes’ absence.
Fate dictated the two men would bat together though not for long, Foakes, understandably deflated edging through to Pepper to give Bosch a third wicket.
Smith though stood firm, demonstrating his ability to be a 360-player, punching and caressing fours through cover and punishing anything on his legs both backward and forward of square.
A ninth four crunched square took him to 50 in 70 balls as he and Sai Sudharsan shared a stand of 70, the Indian youngster’s contribution to which was 13.
The stand would be broken in strange circumstances. Porter was forced off the field mid-over after appearing to dislocate a finger. Walter took up the cause for the visitors and two balls later found the edge of Sudharsan’s bat, Harmer providing safe hands at slip.
Nothing though was going to derail Smith from a day of destiny, the 23-year-old twice clearing the ropes on the way to a century sealed by a quickly run single.
Job done, he left the stage to the next delivery he faced, castled after missing a straight one in Matt Critchley’s first over.
Jordan Clark didn’t detain us for long and Ryan Patel’s burgeoning innings was cut short by the first ball of a new spell from Snater which pierced his defence.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.
With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.
As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Essex: Dean Elgar, Nick Browne, Tom Westley (c), Jordan Cox, Matt Critchley, Paul Walter, Michael Pepper (wk), Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Eathan Bosch, Jamie Porter.
Durham: Alex Lees, Michael Jones, Colin Ackermann, David Bedingham, Scott Borthwick (c), Ollie Robinson (wk), Bas de Leede, Ben Raine, Matthew Potts, Callum Parkinson, Peter Siddle.
Match Details
Umpires: Martin Saggers & Paul Pollard Match Referee: Simon Hinks Scorers: Paul Parkinson & William Dobson Toss: Durham won the toss who elected to bat first Result: Match drawn
Dean Elgar ground out his 50th career first-class century as Essex grittily defied a toiling Durham attack to draw the sides’ Vitality County Championship match at The Cloud County Ground.
Elgar, who ended on an unbeaten 120, and captain Tom Westley put on an unbroken 165 for the third wicket, as they batted untroubled for almost the entire day to secure the stalemate.
The Eagles, needing to bat out the 96 overs of the final day or complete a stunning chase of 433, resumed on an overnight 28-1, with Elgar and nightwatcher Jamie Porter the unbeaten duo.
Porter resisted gamely for the opening 20 minutes, but was dislodged for three by a Matthew Potts bail-trimmer into his off stump, leaving Essex 43-2.
However, that brought together Elgar and Westley, who set off on an obdurate session of brick-wall blocking to resist everything that was thrown at them.
Their first requirement was to make it to lunch, which – thanks in part to Westley booking in for 76 balls and being interested in only 11 runs – they did successfully, reaching the first break on 83-2.
That represented only 55 runs scored in two hours, with the Eagles’ approach, which became more and more successful over the course of the afternoon, very clear.
While bad balls did still receive the treatment, even by tea, the duo had still only put on 124 from 335 balls, hauling Essex to 167-2, though that was enough to contain Elgar’s second Eagles century.
He reached the landmark after a 170-ball stay lasting more than four hours, finally being able to raise his bat via a flicked two to fine leg off Colin Ackermann.
Following the second break of the day, and with the hosts in a near-ideal position of comfort, Westley cashed in to become the second batter of the day to 50, doing so in 198 balls.
His innings was even more obdurate than Elgar’s, though no less effective, as he finished unbeaten on 63 from a stout 229 deliveries, while the South African’s knock totalled 232 balls.
Westley’s final act was to round out the day just as he had begun it, culminating in handshakes being shared and confirming a 12-point draw for the Eagles.
Day Three Highlights
Day Three Reaction: Paul Walter
Day Three Report
Paul Walter’s sparkling century afforded Essex the opportunity to take the fightback against Durham into a fourth day of the Vitality County Championship clash at The Cloud County Ground.
Walter’s 134, his second first-class hundred, helped Essex post 339 all out, before the visitors, opting not to enforce the follow-on, registered 184-8 declared in a quickfire second innings.
Essex, requiring either 433 to win or to bat out the remainder of the match to secure a draw, then closed an eventful day on 28-1.
On another delightfully warm and clear day in Chelmsford, the Eagles resumed on their overnight 249-4 hoping to add the further 189 needed to avoid the follow-on.
However, their efforts were in vain as Critchley fell for 53 to an Alex Lees catch off Callum Parkinson, ending a stand of 147 with Walter, and Michael Pepper was bowled shortly afterwards.
Walter did go to his century in between those two wickets, reaching the landmark in 146 balls with a clipped single off Parkinson, but he too was bowled with the Essex score narrowly over 300.
Despite managing to resist the majority of the morning, the Eagles were eventually dismissed shortly before lunch as Peter Siddle claimed two of the final three wickets to fall.
With an advantage of 248, Durham could have opted to enforce the follow-on, but chose not to and instead re-emerged for the afternoon with bat in hand.
If Essex harboured hopes of a miraculous turnaround, they did them no harm when Jamie Porter saw first innings-centurion Lees nick off for a first-ball duck.
When Michael Jones then fell in identical fashion for 11, there was even more intrigue about the game, though Scott Borthwick and David Bedingham settled things down with a stand of 61.
Simon Harmer broke through that by seeing Tom Westley hold Bedingham for 28 to deliver a timely reminder that Durham would not have everything their own way.
That point was then further followed up by Critchley, who saw Ollie Robinson caught behind by Pepper to leave Durham 107-4.
Borthwick, who made 71, was finally removed by Harmer thanks to a Pepper catch, before Ben Raine followed for a second-ball duck.
A curious case of cat-and-mouse enveloped the rest of the innings, as Essex took regular wickets against a Durham side that was initially defensive but turned to the attack with a declaration in mind.
Bas de Leede, at one point on six not out from 33 balls, struck 31 before falling to a Pepper stumping, precipitating the declaration.
That left Essex 11 overs to bat out to get to the final day, and although Nick Browne fell for six, they were able to escape with enough intact to take the contest into a fourth day.
Day Two Highlights
Day Two Reaction: Matt Critchley
Day Two Report
Paul Walter and Matt Critchley led the Essex fightback on day two of the Vitality County Championship run-fest with Durham.
Durham’s fast bowling attack had restricted the hosts to 120-4 in response to 587, but Walter struck 80 not out alongside Critchley who will be unbeaten on 51 heading into day three.
The duo put on 129 for the fifth wicket to close the day on 249 4.
Earlier, Ollie Robinson had done his England Test hopes no harm with a flawless 198 as Durham secured maximum batting points in their title charge.
Durham, resuming on 445-4, continued to drown Essex’s attack in runs – as they smashed 142 runs in 26 morning overs before they were bowled out – with maximum batting points pocketed.
Robinson completed his 150 with the third ball of the day – the last four of his nine career centuries have exceeded the milestone.
The former Kent player simply picked up where he had left off on day one, scoring runs at ease and refusing to allow the bowlers to build any pressure.
He past his previous best of 171 – scored against Lancashire in May – and looked set for 200 before trying to force a cut shot, but only edged behind. He was given a generous applause by the crowd on his return to the dressing room.
Otherwise, Critchley and Simon Harmer plugged away with semi-regular wickets amongst the flow of runs.
Harmer and bat-pad Nick Browne combined to dismiss Colin Ackermann and Bas de Leede, with the South African later bowling former team-mate Peter Siddle.
The off-spinner returned four for 188, the most runs he had conceded in a Championship innings.
To go with Robinson, Critchley also snaffled Ben Raine and Matt Potts. Essex’s spinners joining for figures of eight for 346 with Durham bowled out for 587 – the 15th highest score at Chelmsford.
After an energy sapping 122 overs in the field, the hosts were lethargic with the bat.
Browne had already survived being dropped at second slip on 12 when he tickled Potts behind in the sixth over.
Dean Elgar oozed elegance with seven fours in 40, in a 51-run stand with Tom Westley, but edged Siddle to first slip before Westley was leg before to Raine.
Jordan Cox got a start but also fell before making a telling contribution – bowled by a jag backer from the energetic Potts. It left Essex 120 for four and starting to worry about the follow-on target.
But Critchley mimicked Alex Lees’ controlling style, while Walter was closer to Robinson’s aggression, to resuscitate the innings with a century partnership.
Walter was imperious in his decision-making, whether it was slog sweeping for six, clipping off his legs, touching to third or flashing outside off stump.
The maximum took him to 2,000 first class runs before his half-century came up in 63 balls.
Walter and Critchley – whose fifty came in 111 deliveries – were unbreakable in the evening session, as Essex finally found a foothold in the match, but remain 188 runs shy of the follow-on.
Day One Highlights
Day One Reaction: Tom Westley
Day One Report
Centuries for Alex Lees and Ollie Robinson meant the Essex attack was made to toil on a hot first day of the Vitality County Championship clash with Durham at The Cloud County Ground.
Opener Lees struck 113 while Robinson hit 146 not out as Durham, having won the toss, racked up 444-4 at stumps as red-ball cricket returned to Chelmsford for the first time in 34 days.
Debutant Eathan Bosch was the pick of the home bowlers with 2/72, while spinners Simon Harmer and Matt Critchley also picked up one apiece.
The temperature was already high by the time the toss took place at 10:30am, and Durham took immediate advantage of the conditions with a quickfire opening partnership of 61 in 12 overs.
That was brought to an end with the introduction of Bosch from the Graham Gooch End, as the South African took the wicket of Michael Jones, caught behind by Michael Pepper for 38, with his second ball.
With their tails up, Essex did strike joy again almost immediately afterwards, as opposing captain Scott Borthwick top-edged Bosch through to Pepper for five, leaving Durham 83-2.
However, a resistant stand between Lees and Bedingham saw the visitors reach lunch at 144-2, with the duo’s 50 stand coming up just after Lees’ individual half-century was notched in 81 balls.
Bedingham followed suit early in the afternoon from just 53 deliveries as the pair neared a 100 stand, though the breakthrough did arrive before they were able to make it.
The in-form South African, who is the leading run-scorer in the Championship so far this year, had cruised to 65 but fell to Pepper’s third catch of the day, from the bowling of Harmer, in mid-afternoon.
That did, though, only serve to bring Robinson to the crease, and the duo went on to go even further, as Lees passed 100 in 184 balls on the way to a stand of 136 for the fourth wicket.
Robinson followed to 50 from 74 balls moments before tea, which was reached with Durham comfortable at 267-3, and the pair pressed on past 300 into the evening.
Critchley removed Lees after the second of three ball changes that occurred throughout the day, pinned lbw, but that was to be the last breakthrough that Essex were able to take on a tough day.
Colin Ackermann, who hit a century against the Eagles in the reverse fixture at the Seat Unique Riverside in April, accompanied Robinson to the close unbeaten on 58, with the partnership worth an unbroken 130.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.
With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.
As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Paul Walter recorded his 100 T20 appearance for the Club against Kent Spitfires on Friday evening to join an illustrious group of just seven others players to do so (Ryan ten Doeschate 191, James Foster 164, Ravi Bopara 156, Mark Pettini 116, Graham Napier 109, Tom Westley 107 & Simon Harmer 101).
Paul followed Simon Harmer in achieving this milestone after the South African marked the same feat on Thursday’s match against Hampshire Hawks.
After making his T20 debut against Hampshire in June 2016, Tall Paul has hit 1,452 runs over the course of 81 innings, which included a career-best 78 against Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens en route to Finals Day last season.
The all-rounder has 52 Essex T20 wickets to his name, with best bowling figures of 3-24 against Surrey in 2017.
He has now become one of the most sought-after franchise cricketers after continuing his form in other competitions, such as the Big Bash with Brisbane Heat in 2023 and with Manchester Originals in the Hundred for the last two seasons.
Essex T20 skipper Simon Harmer presented Paul with a commemorative cap ahead of play at the Spitfire Ground and went on to help his team to victory hitting 16 off 11 balls and taking 1/26 with the ball.
The Eagles Have Landed: The 2024 Vitality Blast at The Cloud County Ground
Fresh from a Finals Day appearance last summer, Essex are now back in Vitality Blast action for 2024.
With the Eagles sitting fourth in the South Group and firmly in contention for another knockout match, demand for tickets remains exceptionally high.
As Essex continue to aim towards going one better in 2024, there is no time to waste to snap up your seats.
Friday 05 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Somerset – SOLD OUT Thursday 11 July, 7:00pm: Essex v Kent Spitfires – buy here Sunday 14 July, 2:30pm: Essex v Surrey – buy here
Our next Members’ Forum will take place after play on day two of the Vitality County Championship match against Durham on Monday 24 June 2024.
The Forum is exclusively for Essex Members in person only and will take place in the Doug Insole Pavilion soon after play has concluded for the day (approximately 6:30pm).
Meteor Way car park will be open for the duration of the Forum and any available spaces at The Cloud County Ground will be free from 5pm.
Attendees are invited to submit questions in advance by midday on Tuesday 24 June to [email protected].
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