The latest Members’ Forum took place this week and was an opportunity to hear from our panel of Club Committee and staff about the current status of welcoming supporters back to the ground.

The other main topics of discussion centered around the plans post-June 21, the appointment of a CEO, new Governance, and also the upcoming Members’ Ballot.

Also included was a presentation from the Club’s Cricket Operations Director, Dan Feist which explained the full COVID restriction and matchday plans.

The Forum was also an opportunity to hear an update on the First Team squad as the first block of LV= Insurance County Championship fixtures draws to an end.

The event was hosted by Committee Member, Mike Smith and the panel members included Executive Chairman John Faragher, Deputy Chairman Peter Northfield, Treasurer Ian Patterson, Chairman of the Cricket Committee Ronnie Irani, Essex Cricket in the Community Chair Philip George and Cricket Operations Director, Dan Feist.

Thank you to everyone who attended the evening and the next Members’ event is the Annual General Meeting, which takes place on Wednesday 16 June.

Durham v Essex

LV= Insurance County Championship

Emirates Riverside, Chester-le-Street, Thursday 27 – Sunday 30 May

Team News:

Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.

Durham: Cameron Bancroft, Alex Lees, Scott Borthwick (c), David Bedingham, Jack Burnham, Michael Jones, Ned Eckersley (wk), Brydon Carse, Ben Raine, Matthew Potts, Chris Rushworth.

Match Details:

Umpires: James Middlebrook & David Millns
Toss: Durham won and elected to bowl first
Result: Essex won by 195 runs

Day Three Match Highlights:

Day Three Reaction: Sam Cook

Day Three Match Report:

Essex beat Durham with a day to spare after the home side were bowled out for 189 after they had been set 385 for victory at the Emirates Riverside.

Jamie Porter returned figures of 4/31, Peter Siddle 3/47 and Sam Cook 2/9, whilst Ryan ten Doeschate also chipped in with a wicket at a cost of 10 runs.

The two teams combined for an English record for lbw decisions in a first-class match when Jack Burnham was pinned in front of his stumps by Siddle to become the 19th lbw dismissal awarded by umpires James Middlebrook and David Millns.

Durham started their second innings an hour before Lunch and soon lost Australian international Cameron Bancroft when he went on the backfoot facing Jamie Porter in the third over and lost his middle and off stumps having scored four of the eight runs on the board.

Skipper Scott Borthwick arrived to dominate the scoring whilst Alex Lees attempted to anchor the innings with disciplined batting but with the total on 47, the partnership was broken when Sam Cook trapped Borthwick in front of his stumps for a 50-ball 29 that included four boundaries. It was the second time in the match that Borthwick had fallen to Cook in this fashion.

Lees was joined by Michael Jones and the pair attempted to fashion a revival but they were facing an attack that was bowling superbly with nagging lines and economy.

A plea to change the ball that had gone out of shape was upheld with the score 86-2 and the replacement cherry proved acceptable to Lees who, in the next over, straight drove Simon Harmer over the ropes.

The third-wicket pair completed their half-century partnership in 101 balls but a bowling change by skipper Tom Westley proved inspirational when Ryan ten Doeschate was introduced into the attack.

He persuaded Lees to change his mind when the batsman initially went on the drive and the checked shot merely popped up a simple catch to Nick Browne in the covers to send Lees back to the Pavilion two runs short of his half-century.

Now 104-3, an attritional period of play followed as the Essex bowlers tightened their firm grip on proceedings still further. Runs were hard to come by as Jones and Durham’s leading batsmen David Bedingham became entrenched in their backs-to-the-wall effort to survive.

They scored 22 runs in 11 overs as Durham reached tea on 126-3 still requiring a further 259 for victory.

The pedestrian pace continued after the resumption with 11 runs added in 12 overs against a frugal attack until Cook ended Jones dogged resistance encouraging the batsman to step across the line and become yet another lbw victim – the 18th of the match so far.

Jones had occupied the crease for six minutes short of three hours for his 35 and four overs later, he was joined back in the Pavilion by Jack Burnham whose occupation of the crease was much shorter. He had scored five in 15 minutes when he walked in front of his stumps allowing Siddle to set the new English record of 19 lbw verdicts in a match.

The next wicket to fall was altogether more conclusive. Ned Eckersley had scored six when his off-stump was flattened by Siddle as Durham recoiled to 161-6 and the return of Porter to the attack, quickly hastened the capitulation.

He grabbed two wickets in three deliveries. The first of that brace knocked out the off-stump of Ben Raine who had made seven although a bail flew into the face of wicket-keeper Adam Wheater who was standing up to the stumps. Fortunately, he was able to continue after receiving attention from Physiotherapist Chris Clarke-Irons.

Porter’s second scalp of this incisive over was that of Bedingham whose stoic effort ended with a ball angled into him. Bowled for 32, he had faced 120 balls and only found the boundary on one occasion when he struck a Harmer delivery over ropes.

Now 171-8, the conclusion of the match drew ever closer two runs later when Ben Raine nicked Siddle to the recovered Wheater for two before Porter sent Potts off-stump cartwheeling to conclude proceedings.

At the start of the day, the remaining two Essex overnight wickets added 38 runs before the innings closed on 301 with Harmer left 47 not out. With Cook, 43 had been added for the ninth-wicket before Raine picked up the last two wickets removing Cook for 22 and Porter for a duck.

Essex earned 19 points and Durham three from the encounter.

Day Two Match Highlights:

Day Two Reaction: Adam Wheater

Day Two Match Report:

Adam Wheater composed a superbly crafted 81 supported by 55 from Ryan ten Doeschate to lead Essex to a dominant position in their LV= Insurance County Championship match with Durham at Chester-le-Street.

At the close of Day Two, they were 263-8, representing an overall lead of 346 runs.

During an innings of the utmost pragmatism lasting three and a half hours, Wheater drove through the covers with authority and cut freely although resorting to solid defence where necessary.

It was his second half-century of the campaign. He scored 87 in the opening match of the season but had not passed 30 in nine innings since then but his return to form with the bat proved timely.

He was joined in a fruitful partnership of 125 by ten Doeschate who recorded his second half-century in three innings as the pair moved their side, seeking their third win of the season, into a position of authority.

ten Doeschate and Wheater’s partnership blossomed from the start as a result of judicious shot-selection from the pair that kept the score ticking over at an impressive rate of around 4 runs an over.

Playing responsibly, they drove profitably when appropriate to master the bowling. Their half-century partnership took just 53 balls with ten Doeschate the more aggressive claiming 30 of the runs but Wheater was steadily picking up pace.

Ten Doeschate was given a life on 34 when dropped by David Bedingham at second slip off Ben Raine with the total on 130 but otherwise, the pair played elegantly to take a firm grip on proceedings.

Their resourceful approach and application saw them pick off the loose deliveries to score freely. A boundary by ten Doeschate completed the hundred stand from 133 deliveries; ten Doeschate responsible for 48 runs and Wheater just one fewer.

With the pair working the ball around cleanly and running superbly between the wickets, Wheater followed his partner to their individual half-centuries; ten Doeschate’s occupying 82 balls and Wheater’s 74 balls with both batsmen gathering seven fours.

Tea was taken with the score 170-5 and Wheater had now overtaken the former Essex skipper, 55 to 54 having jointly extended the overall lead to 253 runs.

Eight runs later and with ten Doeschate having added one more run to his account, the fruitful liaison finally came to a close when ten Doeschate became the 15th lbw decision of the match, Brydon Carse getting the verdict.

However, Simon Harmer arrived to accompany Wheater to another valuable 50 runs stand diligently achieved, to strengthen the Essex grip on proceedings until Wheater’s outstanding effort was ended by a direct throw from Matty Potts at mid-on throwing the ball to the non-striker’s end.

He had faced 132 balls and found the boundary on 10 occasions.

Harmer proved vigilant and effective relying on a disciplined approach to prosper. Although Carse found the edge to have Peter Siddle caught behind for five, Sam Cook proved a dependable ally joining Harmer to successfully negotiate the remaining eight overs.

Harmer has so far faced 105 balls and is unbeaten on 30 whilst Cook is 11 not out and Essex firmly in the driving seat.

It was all in sharp contrast to the early tribulations experienced at the start of the innings when the top three in the order were removed in a sequence of 11 balls to leave the visitors 15-3 at Lunch. Ben Raine whipped out Nick Browne and Tom Westley for six and one respectively, both lbw decisions, whilst Chris Rushworth produced a beauty that hit off stump to breach the defences of Alastair Cook.

It was the third time in four innings this season that Rushworth had dismissed the former England captain, previously when Cook had scored six and two and, on this occasion, when he had scored seven.

As in the first innings, Michael Pepper and Paul Walter pursued a rebuilding mission. They went about their task with some confidence and no little purpose, playing with sound technique that brought a number of pleasing boundaries in a partnership that grew to 38 in eight overs before Walter chased a wider delivery from Raine and was caught behind for 22 to leave the visitors 53-4.

Pepper followed five balls later edging a Raine delivery into the gloves of Ned Eckersley for 22 but that paved the way for ten Doeschate and Wheater to continue the momentum during an afternoon session when 155 runs were added in 37 overs.

It had taken the three-man Essex pace attack just 14 overs in the morning to claim the remaining four Durham wickets as the home side moved from 58-6 to 99 all out.

Ned Eckersley was on 16 out of a total of 79 when he played across the line when facing Sam Cook and became the 12th lbw victim of the match.

Four balls later and without addition, Peter Siddle knocked out the off stump of Brydon Carse who had just moved into double figures.

Durham found themselves 99-8 after an hour’s play but Jamie Porter, in his third over of the session, struck twice in as many deliveries to conclude the innings. Potts was caught behind before the bowler made a mess of Rushworth’s wicket by re-arranging the middle and off stumps to give Essex a lead of 83 runs.

Cook returned figures of 4/38 taking his tally of victims for the season to 29 in seven matches, Porter finished with 3/27 and Siddle 3/29.

Day One Match Highlights:

Day One Reaction: Michael Pepper

Day One Match Report:

Michael Pepper played with noticeable accomplishment on a day when batsmen on both sides faltered alarmingly as 16 wickets fell, 11 of them lbw decisions.

Pepper hit 92 out of 182 all out before Durham staggered to the close on 58-6 in the LV= Insurance County Championship clash at Chester-le-Street.

After their modest total, the visitors were galvanised by their pace attack with five lbw victims, three claimed by Sam Cook and two by Peter Siddle after Jamie Porter had started the slide when Alex Lees was trapped in front in the third over of the reply. The opener failed to score, his second duck of the season against Essex and the revolving door of batsmen coming and going continued.

The total had crept up to 33 when three wickets fell in 12 balls for four runs.

Facing Cook, Scott Borthwick got his feet in a tangle and was out for eight, and five balls later Cameron Bancroft, attempting to play into the leg side, was removed by Siddle for 20. Then in his next over, Cook claimed Michael Jones for four when the batsman offered no shot.

Siddle then raced in three overs later to bag Jack Burnham, who was reaching forward, for two to enhance what had been a remarkable fightback.

And too conclude an amazing day’s play , David Bedingham was bowled by Cook for 10 with the final delivery.

Siddle ended the day with 2/15, Cook 3/20 and Porter 1/22.

It had been a landmark day for Pepper, whose previous best first-class score was 22, and who counter-attacked effectively producing some handsome strokes on a wicket always offering seam assistance.

He batted for three and a half hours striking 13 boundaries with controlled driving and proved an inspiring figure standing firm whilst others struggled. He did start nervously but grew in confidence to produce some expansive drives and cuts.

Harlow-born, the right-hander stepped into the void left by the selection of Dan Lawrence for the England Test squad ahead of the forthcoming series with New Zealand and the 22-year-old played admirably.

It was only his fourth first-class appearance and first in the longer format since May 2019. But his dismissal within eight runs short of a deserved century, brought about a dramatic collapse with Essex losing their last five wickets in 17 balls for just three runs.

They collapsed from 179-5 to 182 all out with Chris Rushworth claiming a trio of victims (two in one over) and Ben Raine a couple as a morbid procession of batsmen came and went all too quickly.

Pepper had been well-supported by Paul Walter as the pair found themselves in a tricky situation at the start of their fourth-wicket partnership with the visitors 40-3 after less than hour’s play.

Walter’s first three scoring strokes all reached the boundary but he was generally preoccupied with an effective solid defence approach that proved invaluable as he and Pepper battled to improve their side’s fortunes.

Their half-century partnership arrived from 100 deliveries in the over before Lunch (91-3) but seven balls into the afternoon session, Durham successfully requested the ball to be replaced, the original having gone out of shape.

And in the next over, Walter was bowled by Raine for 28 having batted for an hour and a half, undone by a full and straight delivery that uprooted off stump to leave the visitors 104-4.

Pepper though soldiered on with his attractive knock reaching the boundary for the eighth time, this an impressive cut to complete his fifty having faced 102 balls.

Ryan ten Doeschate, who had been dropped at first slip on one, was the next to go. He failed with his attempt to paddle sweep the leg-spin of Borthwick to be lbw for eight and half the side were now back in the Pavilion for 139.

Pepper, who had dominated a sixth-wicket partnership worth 40, was finally undone when trapped in the crease by Rushworth to start the calamitous conclusion to the innings.

Simon Harmer fell to Raine for one, the fifth of six lbw decisions in the innings, and then Wheater and Sam Cook were removed in the same Rushworth over, Wheater for eight nibbling outside off to edge a catch behind and Cook pinned in front for a single.

Raine concluded the visitors’ misery when he bowled Peter Siddle for a single with a delivery that snapped middle stump.

At the start of the day, Durham had won the toss and elected to bowl and the decision of Captain Borthwick was fully vindicated with three wickets in the first hour.

Nick Browne had faced the majority of the strike when, with the penultimate ball of the fifth over and with the total on 25, Rushworth broke the opening stand.

Back in 2009 at Riverside, Cook and his then Essex colleague Ravi Bopara had put on 213 for the 2nd wicket when playing for England against West Indies with Cook scoring 160 and Bopara 108 as the hosts went on to win by an innings and 83 runs.

But on this occasion, Cook had made only two when the bowler, who recently became Durham’s all-time leading first-class wicket-taker, added to his collection when Cook stepped across the line and was trapped lbw having faced nine balls.

Browne, who had worked the ball around the field well, had just taken his aggregate of first-class career runs for Essex to 6,000 when he reached 23 from 27 balls carrying the score to 33 when, without further addition, he was completely castled by Matty Potts with a delivery that left just one stump standing.

Raine replaced Potts and was soon in a celebratory mood when with the last ball of his opening over and the score on 40, he won the verdict of umpire David Millns. Tom Westley had spent 33 minutes at the crease and was still looking to get off the mark when he was struck on the pad attempting to turn a leg -ide delivery behind square and looked up to see the finger of fate raised.

There were more than 1,000 people in attendance at Riverside, the first time in 611 days that the gates had been opened to welcome crowds because of COVID-19 restrictions.

And after the clouds of an overcast morning gave way to pleasant post-midday weather, they were treated to Pepper’s superb effort amongst a fest of lbw decisions.

It was a match that had everything as Essex secured a 44-run victory on the final day against Durham. With their backs against the wall, Tom Westley’s men bowled out the visitors for 123 in the morning session after heroics from the bowling attack.

This included a second five-wicket haul in the match for Simon Harmer who ended with figures of 10/136.

The Club’s official photographer, Nick Wood covered the match and you can view the game through his camera lens via our Match Gallery.

Scroll through the images and hit the i for further information.

Photo Gallery:

© Unshaken Photography

Essex v Durham

LV= Insurance County Championship

The Cloudfm County Ground, Thursday 15 – Sunday 18 April

Team News:

Essex: Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Ben Allison, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.

Durham: Alex Lees, Scott Borthwick (c), David Bedingham, Jack Burnham, Will Young, Ned Eckersley, Stuart Poynter (wk), Brydon Carse, Chris Rushworth, Ben Raine, Matthew Salisbury.

Match Details:

Umpires: Peter Hartley & Billy Taylor
Toss: Essex won and elected to bat first
Result: Essex won by 44 runs

Day Four Highlights:

Day Four Reaction:

Day Four Match Report:

Simon Harmer spun Essex to a superb 44-run victory over Durham in the LV= Insurance County Championship match at The Cloudfm County Ground when he claimed 5 for 57 to finish with a match haul of 10 for 136.

The visitors had started the final day on 60-3 in search of a target of 168 but they never really threatened to deny Essex their triumph which seemed so unlikely for much of the match.

Durham were bowled out for 123 shortly before lunch as their opponents claimed their 12th success in 13 matches to maintain an unbeaten record at Chelmsford stretching back three years.

Harmer embarked upon his destructive spell by having Jack Burnham caught on the long-on boundary by Tom Westley for 43 in the tenth over of the morning.

In his next over, he trapped first innings century-maker Scott Borthwick lbw for 24 to end a vigilant 169-minute vigil at the crease by the watchful Durham captain who had faced 92 balls before reaching double figures.

Now 87 for 5, the visitors lost another wicket for the addition of just a single when Sam Cook won the lbw shout to get rid of Stuart Poynter.

That paved the way for Harmer to weave his magic with three more wickets in quick succession.

Ben Raine became the third batsman in 11 balls to succumb to Harmer’s guile when he was pinned in the crease for 3 and then Ned Eckersley was caught at leg slip for 13 by Dan Lawrence to leave Durham on the cusp of defeat at 108 for 8.

Next to depart was Brydon Carse, who had scored 15 when he was lbw to Harmer who had now enjoyed an incisive spell of 4 wickets in 26 balls at a personal cost of 16 runs.

That left Jamie Porter to bring the Durham innings to a close by breaching the defences of Matt Salisbury who lost his middle stump.

Harmer’s performance heralded his sixth 10-wicket match haul for Essex since he joined in 2017 and it was also the 22nd occasion that he had taken 5 wickets or more in an innings.

It also signalled a remarkable triumph for the County Champions after they had been rolled over for 96 on the opening day and later, trailed by 163 runs on first innings scores.

Essex picked up 19 points for the win and will travel to Edgbaston for their next Championship match that starts against Warwickshire on Thursday.

Day Three Highlights:

Day Three Reaction:

Day Three Match Report:

Essex have put themselves in contention for what would be a remarkable victory over Durham in the LV= Insurance County Championship match at The Cloudfm County Ground.

After trailing by 163 runs after both sides had batted and finding themselves deep in trouble in their second when they lost their seventh wicket when just 45 runs ahead, Essex finished up by setting the visitors a victory target of 168.

And by the close, Essex had reduced their opponents to 60 for 3 with Jack Burnham (31) and Scott Borthwick 9 not out.

The reigning champions began the day on 208 for 6 and lost Simon Harmer to the third ball of the morning without adding to the score when he was removed lbw by Ben Raine.

But any hopes Durham may have entertained of bringing the innings to a swift end soon disappeared.

Paul Walter, who was 49 overnight, combined with Ben Allison to put together a partnership of 58 before another half-century stand further frustrated the north-east county.

After Walter was caught behind for a career-best 77 that included 8 boundaries and spanned 189 balls, Allison and Sam Cook posted another half-century stand. It yielded 53 in 26 overs before it was brought to an end by paceman Brydon Carse after Allison had made 52, compiling his maiden half-century at first-class level.

Allison fell lbw after the same bowler had accounted for Walter with the help of a straight-forward catch to wicket-keeper Stuart Poynter.

Soon afterwards, Cook became another victim of the Poynter/Carse combination although not before Cook had equalled his career-best 37 as the innings was brought to an end with the score on 330.

Carse finished with figures of 5 for 82 before Essex removed both Durham openers without a run on the board.

Will Young shouldered arms and was bowled by Sam Cook while Alex Lees was trapped leg before by Jamie Porter. When Cook struck again to have David Bedingham caught at point by Allison for 18, Essex were in the ascendancy.

But first innings century-maker Scott Borthwick and his colleague Jack Burnham resisted all attempts to remove them as Durham ended the day 108 short of the winning post with 7 wickets in hand.

Borthwick has so far faced 88 balls in making a patient and solid nine and remains a difficult obstacle for Essex to overcome if they are to go on and win the game.

Even so, skipper Tom Westley will be satisfied that his side are still in the game on the final day after they were dismissed for a paltry 96 in their first innings.

Day Two Highlights:

Day Two Reaction:

Day Two Match Report:

Despite 76 from Dan Lawrence and an unbeaten 49 from Paul Walter, Essex are looking to save the game and avoid a first defeat in 13 home red-ball matches having reached the close on 208 for 6, a lead of just 45 runs.

The visitors added 111 runs for their last two wickets in the morning to gain a first-innings advantage of 163 but after losing both openers cheaply, a third wicket partnership worth 103 between Lawrence and Tom Westley had given Essex hope that they could muster a total to give themselves a slim chance of turning around their fortunes.

However, the departure of both batsmen within the space of 5 overs allowed Durham to retain their vice-like grip on proceedings.

Walter though played resourcefully with calm authority picking off the loose deliveries and he will resume in the morning with Simon Harmer, who is 6 not out. Picking off the loose deliveries.

Essex commenced their second innings after lunch trailing and they lost two wickets with only 19 runs wiped off the deficit.

For the second time on the match Nick Browne, who had made 4, was bowled by Chris Rushworth to leave the hosts 6 for 1 and 13 runs later, Alastair Cook was caught at short mid-wicket off Matt Salisbury for 12.

Westley and Lawrence drove with noticeable accomplishment with Lawrence deftly clipping the ball off his toes to find the boundary whilst his partner also favoured the leg side to good effect.

Both produced a number of handsome strokes and they had just brought up a century partnership when, with the total on 122, Westley steered a ball from Brydon Carse into the hands of first slip.

Shortly after, Lawrence also fell to the same bowler when puling a delivery to deep mid-wicket.

At that stage, the County Champions were still 24 runs adrift.

Walter and Ryan ten Doeschate had just wiped off the deficit when the canny captaincy of Scott Borthwick brought further problems. He introduced himself into the attack picking up two wickets in 12 balls with his leg-spin as Essex slumped to 180 for 6.

Ryan ten Doeschate had scored 16 but then drove firmly at a half-volley and Borthwick dived to hold a return catch inches from the ground. Then Adam Wheater was caught behind for 6 to leave Essex floundering at 180 for 8 and staring at defeat.

It had taken the home side 33 and a half overs in the morning to wrap up the Durham first innings after the visitors resumed on 148 for 8 before being eventually dismissed for 259.

Leading the way was former Essex bowler Matt Salisbury who posted a career-best 41 during a 94 runs stand with Stuart Poynter, a county record for the ninth wicket in matches between the two counties.

It was Harmer who finally broke the partnership when he had Salisbury snapped up by ten Doeschate at forward short leg to give the bowler his 5th wicket of the innings and his 21st five-for in his Essex career. This latest effort came at a personal cost of 79 runs from 34 overs of which 12 were maidens.

Sam Cook called on the assistance of namesake Alastair to account for last man Rushworth who was caught at first slip for 15 to give the bowler figures of 3 for 57 and that left Poynter 52 not out.

Day One Highlights:

Day One Reaction:

Day One Match Report:

Scott Borthwick scored a superb century on a dramatic opening day’s play at The Cloudfm County Ground where Essex were bowled out for just 96 before Durham reached 148 for 8 at the close.

The Durham skipper played with composure, determination, and skill, qualities that had not been in too much evidence elsewhere, stroking his way to a 119-ball century that included 15 boundaries.

But with his score on 100, the spin of Dan Lawrence breached his defences and he was bowled. Lawrence then bowled Brydon Carse with his next delivery to leave Durham 143 for 7 and Essex back in contention after Simon Harmer had taken three wickets and Sam Cook two Essex had been dismissed for 96, in 41.3 overs before they showed character and resolve to keep their interest alive after the north-east county had been in apparent total control.

Cook recorded his 100th first-class wicket for Essex when he removed Alex Lees for 5 with the score on 11 when Durham replied but Will Young and Borthwick combined taking the visitors past the Essex paltry total with both batsmen looking comfortable at the crease.

But then the visitors wobbled.

Harmer brought the 87 runs liaison to an end when he had debutant Young picked up by Lawrence at leg slip for 24 and 6 runs later, had David Bedingham caught by Tom Westley at long-on for a duck with Durham just 8 runs ahead.

Jack Burnham was then bowled for a single by a Cook delivery that was angled across him (114-4) but after Ned Eckersley and Borthwick added 27, four wickets fell for three runs.

Eckersley was caught at slip off Harmer for 4 before Lawrence struck twice in as many deliveries and Harmer took his tally to 4 for 41 when Ben Raine edged to first slip just before the close with Durham 52 runs ahead.

The Durham bowlers took full advantage of the helpful conditions, none more so than Chris Rushworth who led the way with 3 for 37 from 11 overs of which 8 were maidens. Carse also grabbed three wickets at a cost of 37 runs whilst Raine and former Essex man Matt Salisbury shared the remaining four wickets.

Essex won the toss and elected to bat but on an overcast morning, the scoreboard painted a gloomy picture as five wickets fell for 36 runs in a little over an hour. Three of those went before half an hour had been played with Nick Browne, Alastair Cook and Westley were all victims of the Durham new ball attack.

And by the time 14 overs had been bowled, they were joined by Paul Walter and Ryan ten Doeschate with none of the five victims managing to contribute more than 7 runs. It had taken five sessions of play in the previous match at Chelmsford for five wickets to fall but the batting paradise of that match against Worcestershire was replaced by the nightmare start from the home side.

With the ball nibbling about on a well-grassed pitch, the chapter of calamities began from the start of the match. Browne dragged the third ball of the match onto his stumps without a run on the board to give Rushworth the first of his two wickets.

Then his new ball partner and former Essex paceman Salisbury moved a ball away from Westley, who had scored a double-century against Worcestershire, and the Essex skipper edged the ball onto the gloves of Stuart Poynter. He departed for 4 with Essex 7 for 2 and that became 15 for 3 when Alastair Cook’s barren run of form continued.

Pushing half-forward against Rushworth, the former England captain was struck on the pads and departed for 6 as his side reeled to 15 for three.

Lawrence and Paul Walter combined for 17 before the introduction of Carse brought further woes for the County Champions.

With his first delivery, he encouraged Walter, on 7, to drag the ball onto his stumps from outside off and three balls and 4 runs later, had ten Doeschate caught at third slip off the edge of the bat as the Essex batsman ducked into a short delivery.

With ten Doeschate gone for 4 and the scoreboard showing a sorry 36 for 5, Lawrence was joined by Adam Wheater, and the pair set about rebuilding the innings. Lawrence, selective in driving, played well off his legs and twice collected boundaries in the same over against Raine.

The plucky Wheater was twice hit on the body by short-pitched deliveries and offered Lawrence valuable support playing with good sense.

Lunch was taken early when rain, 10 minutes before the scheduled interval, gave Essex (74-5) some respite from their troubles of the morning.

Further delight for Durham followed upon the resumption of play when they struck three times in 28 deliveries. Without addition to the lunch score, Raine encouraged Wheater to flirt with a ball outside off stump and was caught at second slip for 18.

Lawrence’s resistance came to an end on 32 when he was undone by a beauty from Salisbury that straightened with the ball clipping the bails to leave the home side 74 for 6.

Two runs later, Raine had Harmer caught for a duck at first slip by Bedingham and after a further shower on 81 for 8 held up the action for 40 minutes, it did not take long for the Durham attack to wrap up the innings.

Ben Allison was caught behind for 4 to a ball from Rushworth that straightened and Sam Cook was caught at slip for 15 when a bouncer from Carse struck the grill of the helmet.

Essex v Kent

Pre-season friendly

The Cloudfm County Ground, Monday 29 – Tuesday 30 March

Squad News:

Essex: Alastair Cook, , Nick Browne, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater, Matt Quinn, Ben Allison, Shane Snater, Aaron Beard, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter, Feroze Khushi.

Kent: Daniel Bell-Drummond, Jordan Cox, Zak Crawley, Miguel Cummins, Tim Groenewald, Jack Leaning, Matt Milnes, Marcus O’Riordan, Harry Podmore, Ollie Robinson, Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart.

Match Details:

Umpires: Richard Kettleborough & Robert White
Toss: Uncontested, Kent to bat first
Result: Essex win

Day Two: Close of Play Report

Nick Browne showed some fine early season form as he posted 97 that acted as the catalyst for a strong Essex performance in the final pre-season friendly ahead of the 2021 season.

The opener’s effort was supported by an unbeaten 55 from Paul Walter and 40 from skipper Tom Westley.

Chasing a Kent score of 270-5 from 80 overs, the home side passed their target figure in the 79th over with five wickets intact.

Left-hander Browne played attractively throughout his innings spanning 167 balls that contained 19 boundaries as he executed a fluent array of drives to set up the victory.

After the departure of Cook, who was pinned leg before for 10 by a ball from Harry Podmore that kept low, Browne and Westley added 104 in 25 overs with both keeping the scoreboard ticking along with some sweetly-timed strokeplay.

Westley played confidently until, with the score on 127, he was adjudged caught behind off the bowling of Fred Klaassen.

Dan Lawrence joined Browne making 21 in a stand worth 32 in 10 overs before he fell leg before trying to work Podmore into the leg side leaving Walter to join Browne.

Looking assured from the start, Walter gathered his runs in a competent and chanceless manner as he and Browne carried the score to 194 before the latter, looking for the boundary to take him to three figures just before Tea, picked out deep extra cover off the bowling of spinner Marcus O’Riordan.

Ryan ten Doeschate contributed 19 in a partnership of 43 with Walter before edging a delivery from Matt Milnes to the wicket-keeper and it was left to Adam Wheater to join Walter to see his side across the finishing line.

Wheater was 20 not out when the winning runs were recorded but with another 6 overs of the day’s allocation remaining, both batsmen continued and took the opportunity of further practice in the middle. Walter completed his half-century, made from 115 balls, and was unbeaten on 55 at the close whilst Wheater had progressed 37 not out.

Day One: Close of Play Report

Daniel Bell-Drummond struck a century for Kent who reached 270-5 from 85 overs by the close of the opening day of the two-friendly with Essex at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Bell-Drummond hit 101 in a display of clean and uncomplicated hitting in an innings that contained 18 fours and two sixes. It was the second of his maximum blows, this one when facing Tom Westley that took the Kent skipper and opener onto three figures and at that point, he immediately retired out.

There was early encouragement for the Essex pace attack with the wickets of Jordan Cox and Zak Crawley to reduce the visitors to 42-2.

Cox had scored 9 when he shouldered arms to a ball from the impressive Ben Allison and lost his off stump before Shane Snater, following on from his 5-wicket haul against Lancashire last week, trapped Crawley leg before for 2.

But as the sun grew stronger to afford a perfect day for the summer sport, Bell-Drummond flourished together with third-wicket partner Jack Leaning.

The 25th over of the day brought Bell-Drummond to his half-century with the second of two boundaries in the same over from Aaron Beard.

Bell-Drummond and former Yorkshire batsman Leaning took control with the latter, relying on sound technique, bringing up his own fifty from 89 balls that contained eight boundaries.

The next milestone was the century stand realised in 158 balls as Essex Captain Westley regularly rotated his bowlers in an unsuccessful attempt to break the alliance.

The partnership had reached 138 and the total 180 when Bell-Drummond decided to vacate the crease and retired out having batted for almost four hours.

Ollie Robinson stepped across the line facing Matt Quinn and was lbw for 13 with the score on 196 and seven runs later, Leaning retired out for 57 having batted for 3 hours and 9 minutes to leave Kent 203-5.

Crawley, batting for a second time was joined Cox, who made his second appearance of the day and both took the opportunity of meaningful practice combining to post a 67 runs partnership with Crawley 30 and Cox 36 not out.

Of the Essex wicket-takers, Allison finished with figures of 12-7-15-1, Snater 12-4-35-1 and Quinn 11-5-20-1.

The match resumes tomorrow morning at 11am.