The winning start to the season continued in Hove with another Day Four victory against a Sussex side who fought to the end.
View the photo gallery from all four days of the Bob Willis Trophy match at the 1st Central County Ground through the lens of our Club Photographer, Nick Wood.
Scroll through the images and hit the i for further information.
© Unshaken Photography
Essex: Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Tom Westley (c), Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Paul Walter, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Aaron Beard, Jamie Porter, Matt Quinn.
Sussex: Phil Salt, Tom Haines, Harry Finch, Tom Clark, Ben Brown (c) (wk), Aaron Thomason, Delray Rawlins, George Garton, Stuart Meaker, Henry Crocombe, Mitchell Claydon.
Umpires: Ian Gould & Mark Newell
Match Referee: Stephen Davis
Toss: Essex, who elected to field
Result: Essex win by 3 wickets
Dan Lawrence struck a defining 60 as Essex showed their virtues of character and determination as they beat Sussex by 3 wickets in the Bob Willis Trophy clash with Sussex to record their third successive victory in the competition.
Chasing 196 for victory in 52 overs, they completed their task with 6.1 overs to spare, reaching 199-7 but not before a few nervy moments.
Lawrence, who had offered the best innings of the match, gloved a short ball from George Garton to the wicket-keeper and at that point, Essex required a further 43 runs from 14.5 overs with 5 wickets intact.
But the loss of Adam Wheater and Simon Harmer three overs and 19 runs later left Essex 172-7 and the responsibility on the shoulders of Paul Walter. And he responded superbly, playing with unruffled technique to ease his side across the line with an unbeaten 27, although it was Aaron Beard who glided the winning runs down to fine leg off Stuart Meaker, his second boundary amongst his 10 not out.
Essex were given a sound start by Nick Browne and Alastair Cook who posted 44 in 10 overs before both fell to the bowling of George Garton. Both openers had looked confident with Cook striking 5 boundaries in 30 balls before he edged to slip with Garton claiming his wicket for the second time in the match.
Then Browne went 5 runs later when he failed to deal with a yorker-length ball and was leg before for 19 to leave the visitors 49-2.
Tom Westley, who was timing the ball well from the start, was joined by Lawrence and by Tea, the pair had taken their side to 80-2 and 116 from their target with a minimum of 31 overs remaining.
The Essex skipper, showing fluidity in his strokeplay, realised the half-century stand with Lawrence spanning 79 balls with the latter contributing 33 of that liaison. They continued to pick off the runs until Westley, who had scored 24, had his off-stump knocked back by Stuart Meaker.
His departure left his side requiring another 78 runs with 25 overs at their disposal.
Lawrence continued in accomplished style in his first match in the competition moving sweetly to a 60-ball half-century when he executed a superb cover drive.
Ryan ten Doeschate joined him to put on 24 in 6 overs before the former Essex Captain was caught at deep mid-wicket when facing the bowling of the impressive Garton, who returned 4/50, to leave Essex 142-4 and looking set for a comfortable victory.
But Sussex refused to cave in and when Mitch Claydon accounted for Wheater (14) and Harmer (for a second-ball duck), the match was finely poised.
Walter though remained confident and unperturbed. With 10 overs remaining, a further 18 were required but he and Beard chipped away to carry Essex to the win and 19 points.
Having been on the backfoot after both sides had completed their first innings that left Essex trailing by 54 runs, it was the destructible duo of Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter that set up the opportunity for victory as they accounted for some indeterminate batting.
They returned figures of 5/54 and 3/28 respectively as Sussex were bowled out for 141 having started the last day on 57-2. Porter captured the wicket of major threat Phil Salt in his third over and wrapped up the innings with the dismissal of Henry Crocombe to bookend some incisive work by his off-spin colleague.
The threat offered by Harmer was realised immediately he came into the attack taking his first 2 wickets at a cost of 5 runs. Delray Rawlins at least looked to take on the guileful Harmer twice sending deliveries from the off-spinner high over the boundary.
He had scored an entertaining 40 from 42 balls but Harmer was to have the last word when he trapped his opponent whose intended sweep proved injudicious to earn a leg before dismissal.
Harmer’s 5-fer was the 20th time in his 47 first-class matches for Essex that the he had completed that particular milestone, as he carried his tally of victims for the Club to 245 since making his debut in 2017.
Essex now face Hampshire at Arundel in their next Bob Willis Trophy starting on Saturday.
Essex are facing a big day of cricket in the Bob Willis Trophy tomorrow after Sussex ended Day Three on 57-2, representing an overall lead of 111 runs.
The home side had started their second innings with a 54 run lead after dismissing their opponents for 140, and although Jamie Porter soon had Tom Haines snapped up by Simon Harmer with only 7 runs on the board, Phil Salt and Harry Finch carried their side onto a three-figure advantage.
Although Finch was out for 32 when he was caught by Adam Wheater off Aaron Beard with the last ball of the day, Sussex will believe they are in a strong position to go in search of their second win of the season.
Essex were undone by medium-fast left-armer George Garton who returned career-best figures of 5/26. He included Alastair Cook and Dan Lawrence amongst his early victims and then bagged Essex top-scorer Paul Walter who struck 33 before the bowler clipped the top of off-stump with the first ball after Tea.
The visitors’ innings was in trouble from the start with Nick Browne and Tom Westley both falling for just 4 apiece as Lunch was taken with the Country Champions 28-2.
Their plight worsened when Lawrence was caught behind with the last ball of the first over after the resumption. Cook had looked composed in posting 20 before his hour and a half occupation of the crease was brought to an end by Garton who produced a skiddy delivery that struck the former England Captain on the front pad as he moved across his stumps.
Only Walter looked comfortable bringing the virtues of application and sound shot-selection to address an attack that prospered with through the disciplines of line and length on a pitch offering some encouragement.
He figures in the two highest partnerships of the innings, 30 with Adam Wheater who scored 6 and then 29 with Simon Harmer who scored 17 before he was trapped in front by Mitch Claydon.
The liaison with Harmer ended with the first ball after Tea when Walter was beaten by a Garton delivery that hit the top of off stump to leave Essex 119-7. Two further wickets fell on 121 but last man Matt Quinn scored 13 before former England U19 bowler Garton ended his interest and the innings.
Earlier in the day, Porter had taken 2 of the remaining 4 wickets when Sussex resumed their first innings to leave the 27-year-old paceman with figures of 5/60. It was his 13th 5-fer in 80 first-class matches for Essex, since making his debut at the back end of the 2014 season.
Sussex had resumed on 155-6 in this rain-affected contest but the innings lasted another hour whilst 39 runs were added. Harmer and Beard joined Porter amongst the wickets to finish with 3/48 and 2/45 respectively.
Once again, inclement weather frustrated the players on a day when only 31 overs were possible between Sussex and Essex in the Bob Willis Trophy at Hove with the home side 155-6 at the close.
Play started on time but rain began just before Lunch and continued for much of the afternoon with the post-lunch session completely lost. The downpours intensified during the lunch interval although, by the time tea was taken at 3:45pm, the weather had improved.
Umpires Ian Gould and Mark Newell arranged for a 5pm. inspection of conditions as the ground staff got to work with their mopping-up operations.
However, the officials decided that play could not be resumed and called play off for the day
Simon Harmer had bowled unchanged before Lunch, sending down 16 overs and picking up the wickets of Ben Brown (11) and Delray Rawlins (7) to take his tally for the season to 22 whilst there was a further wicket for Jamie Porter (to add to his 2 the previous day) and one for Aaron Beard as the hosts reached 155-6 when Lunch was taken.
Sussex had resumed on 93-2 under grey skies and the floodlights were soon switched on and it was hard work for the batsmen made increasingly so by the tight control exerted by Harmer and Porter.
Harmer sent down 9 maidens and conceded just 26 runs in the session whilst paceman Porter was also frugal sending down his 6 overs at a cost of just 7 runs with 3 maidens and gaining his wicket with the removal of Harry Finch for 11 in the fourth over of the morning.
Teenager Tom Clark took 30 balls before he got off the mark with a thick edge off Porter to the third man boundary but he looked a promising player as he played Harmer watchfully whilst seeking to play more freely against the pacemen.
The 19-year-old left-hander had reached 21 from 82 balls when he was superbly caught low down at backward point by substitute fielder Feroze Khushi for 21 to give Beard his wicket and leave the South Coast side 131-5.
That wicket came amid wickets for Harmer. Having collected a boundary against earlier in the over, Brown came down the pitch and deposited him over mid-on. But in his next over, Harmer had Brown caught at mid-on by Paul Walter attempting another lofted drive.
Rawlins misjudged a sweep, the ball looping up off his glove to Cook at slip and leaving Aaron Thomason (14), playing only his fourth first-class match, and George Garton (8) to take their side through 6 overs until the weather closed in for the day.
Jamie Porter continued his excellent form by grabbing both Essex wickets as Sussex, who were put in to bat, reached 93-2 on a day when only 30 overs of play were possible because of rain in the Bob Willis Trophy clash at The 1st Central County Ground.
Paceman Porter, who has twice taken 4 wickets in an innings the 2 matches this season, had all the batsmen in trouble and might have gained further reward for his efforts before having to settle for figures of 2/35 when play ended prematurely.
Openers Phil Salt and Tom Haines both played and missed on occasions but had carried the total to 38 in an hour when Porter ended the stand after switching to the Cromwell Road End.
Haines, on 14, was the first to go when he edged to Simon Harmer at second slip.
In grey conditions and with the floodlights on, Salt played enterprisingly but was fortunate to survive a let-off when he gave a difficult chance to Dan Lawrence with his score on 36 but the batsman carried on to post his third half-century of the season.
He had reached 57 when Porter found the edge of the bat with a delivery that came back in to the right-hander and Harmer dived to his right to take the catch. That dismissal ended an innings spanning 82 balls with 11 powerfully struck boundaries and brought in Tom Clark to join forces with Harry Finch.
Clark was still to get off the mark having faced 27 balls when Tea arrived but during the break, rain fell again and play was called off for the day.
It took three inspections by umpires Ian Gould and Mike Newell before they gave the nod for the match to finally get underway 2:30pm, after morning rain had left the outfield damp and leaving 55 overs of play possible.
Essex made 3 changes to the side that beat Surrey earlier in the week with Ryan ten Doeschate, Dan Lawrence and Matt Quinn coming in for Varun Chopra, Feroze Khushi and Sam Cook.
Day Two begins at 11am on Sunday and our Live Stream of the game is available via the Essex Cricket Matchzone – here.
View the photo gallery from all days of the Bob Willis Trophy match against Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground through the lens of our Club Photographer, Nick Wood.
Scroll through the images and hit the i for further information.
© Unshaken Photography
Essex: Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Tom Westley (c), Varun Chopra, Feroze Khushi, Paul Walter, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Aaron Beard, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.
Surrey: Mark Stoneman (c), Ryan Patel, Scott Borthwick, Will Jacks, Jamie Smith (wk), Laurie Evans, Rikki Clarke, Guy Atkinson, Adam Finch, James Taylor, Amar Virdi.
Umpires: Chris Watts & Ben Debenham
Match Referee: Peter Such
Toss Won By: Essex, who elected to bat
Result: Essex win by 169 runs
Thanks to Levett Consultancy who are our matchball sponsors for this match and all fixtures in the 2020 season.
Simon Harmer turned in another outstanding performance as Essex crushed Surrey in the Bob Willis Trophy match at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Harmer followed up his 6 for 67 in the first innings with 8 for 64 in the second as the visitors were bowled out for 167, taking his tally to 29 wickets in his last three matches against Surrey.
The off-spinner’s match return of 14 for 131 was the fifth time in 46 matches that he had bagged 10 or more wickets in a game for the county and he has now collected hauls of five or more wickets in an innings on 19 occasions in an Essex sweater.
Harmer bowled throughout the final day and was on course for all ten wickets after dispatching the first six batsmen back to the pavilion, but he was to deny himself that opportunity by taking a magnificent catch low down at second slip to get rid of Jamie Smith to present Aaron Beard with the first of his two wickets that came at a cost of 33 runs in 10 overs.
It was Smith who provided the backbone of Surrey’s innings as he struck 8 fours, with many flowing drives, in a contribution of 45 that spanned 89 balls in a 131-minute stay at the crease.
However, the rest of his colleagues were incapable of keeping spin magician Harmer at bay as a number of them fell to the array of spinner’s tricks. None more so than Laurie Evans who gave Harmer the charge when facing only his second delivery to present Adam Wheater with the easiest stumping he is likely to ever claim.
Having resumed on 27 for 1, Surrey adopted a watchful approach and the first hour of the final day brought them just 17 runs for the loss of one further wicket, that of Scott Borthwick.
When lunch arrived, the visitors were on 86 for 3, as Ryan Patel had also been removed, ending a 97-ball innings for 19 when he skied an intended pull to mid-wicket.
The only partnership of note featured Smith and Will Jacks who put on 51 for the fourth wicket. Jacks contributed 21 but once he became an lbw victim against Harmer, Surrey’s resistance was swept aside.
Rikki Clarke was snapped up at forward short-leg and Gus Atkinson was bowled as Harmer continued his teasing ways. Aaron Beard had James Taylor caught at cover leaving Harmer, fittingly, to wrap up the innings and the match when having Amar Virdi caught at mid-off.
The South African, who provided the inspiration for Essex’s double triumph of the County Championship and Vitality Blast Cup last season, has so far taken 20 wickets in the opening two matches of this inaugural Bob Willis Trophy competition.
The thrashing of Surrey, from which Essex earned 21 points, takes them to the top of the South Group and leaves them in confident mood for their next test, a visit to Hove to face Sussex on Saturday.
Essex go into the final day of the Bob Willis Trophy clash against Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground as favourites to claim their second win in the competition.
A score of 261 in their second innings, left their opponents facing a victory target of 337 and by the close, they had moved to 27 for the loss of Mark Stoneman.
On a pitch which is likely to offer increasing assistance to Simon Harmer, that will represent a tall order for the visitors as the off-spinner confirmed when he trapped Stoneman leg before in the final over of the day.
Stoneman’s only consolation was that he displayed more enterprise than he did in his first knock when he laboured through 65 balls to collect five singles. This time around his 16 runs all came in boundaries.
His opening partner Ryan Patel will resume on 10 as Surrey know that it will need something exceptional to deny Essex victory.
The Essex innings was based on a cautious rather than cavalier approach. The most fluent of batsmen was Alastair Cook who included three glorious drives among his six boundaries to make 42 from 69 balls.
Many of those came in a partnership with Tom Westley, the skipper arriving at the crease after Nick Browne became an early victim of Adam Finch when he was caught behind for four.
Cook had looked so at ease that it came as something of a surprise when he fell lbw to Gus Atkinson to end a 47-run stand with Westley which lasted 12 overs.
Westley, having managed 23 runs in three previous trips to the middle, was in need of a sizeable contribution and one looked on the cards as he prospered into the 30’s, but on 34, he departed in disappointing fashion against off-spinner Amar Virdi, when turning the ball off his hips to Scott Borthwick at backward short-leg.
Westley’s contribution from 61 deliveries contained three boundaries, one fewer than Varun Chopra who was also in need of runs. He struck a patient 39 from 96 deliveries and was another looking increasingly comfortable in the middle until he played Finch straight into the hands of Ryan Patel at cover point.
Paul Walter again put together another useful contribution, following his 33 on the opening day, with 46 second time around. He needed 96 balls to collect those runs but in between periods of restraint, he helped himself to seven boundaries. He was eventually undone by the spin of Virdi who breached his defences and knocked out off-stump to leave Essex 209 for 6.
Adam Wheater unleashed a few emphatic blows as Essex carried their lead beyond 300 before Harmer was trapped leg before by Virdi for 14 and they then lost their remaining three wickets in the space of seven deliveries.
Finch had Wheater caught at backward point for 33 by Borthwick and then despatched Sam Cook to a first ball lbw.
Virdi was to bring the innings to a close on 261 when he had Aaron Beard caught behind to end with figures of 4 for 85 while Finch returned 4 for 38.
Simon Harmer claimed 6 for 67 as Essex carved out a first-innings lead of 75 runs in their Bob Willis Trophy clash with Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground.
And after bowling their opponents out for 187, they progressed to 13 without loss with Nick Browne on 4 and Alastair Cook 8 not out.
That advantage could have been greater but Essex were made to pay for their profligacy in the field as Will Jacks, who top-scored with 70, was dropped three times before he reached his half-century.
Either side of Aaron Beard putting him down on the backward square leg boundary when he had made 31 to deny Porter another scalp, Varun Chopra twice failed to hold on to chances at forward short leg when Jacks pushed at deliveries from Harmer.
The batsman’s luck finally ran out when he popped up a simple catch to Beard at mid-wicket to give Harmer deserved reward and end a stand of 80 in 21 overs with Laurie Evans for the fifth wicket.
Jacks and Evans decided on a positive and entertaining approach after coming together with their side in trouble at 54 for 4.
The pugnacious effort from Jacks spanning 127 balls contained a dozen boundaries while Evans was bowled for 41 by Jamie Porter with the first delivery after tea to end his 70 ball sojourn.
It was Porter that had plunged the visitors into trouble early on by having Ryan Patel snapped up at second slip by Harmer with his sixth ball of the innings and then seeing off Scott Borthwick with his next ball with the aid of Feroze Khushi at short mid-wicket.
Harmer embarked upon his destructive course by ending opener Mark Stoneman’s attritional innings that saw him gather just five singles in his 65-ball stay.
His vigilant occupation of the crease came to an end when he was caught low down by Alastair Cook at first slip.
After getting rid of Jacks. Harmer went on to demolish the tail whilst Porter’s reward was 4 for 53.
Earlier in the day, Essex lost their last three wickets, those of Harmer, Beard and Sam Cook, for the addition of nine runs after they had resumed on 253 for seven.
Two of the wickets were picked up by Rikki Clarke whose nagging accuracy was to earn him figures of 3 for 26 from 21 overs.
Essex were left with 4 overs to face at the end of the day, a task their openers negotiated without alarm.
Will Jacks aggressive approach steered Surrey guided to 136 for 5 at tea after they had recoiled to 54 for 4 at one stage in the afternoon. The 21-year-old right-hander posted an 81-ball half-century although he did enjoy a generous helping of good fortune being dropped three times, on 25, 31, and then 46 before reaching the milestone with the ninth boundary of his innings.
Two of his “lives” came facing Simon Harmer when Varun Chopra was unable to complete difficult chances at short leg and the other let-off came when Aaron Beard could not hold the chance off the bowling of Jamie Porter.
Jacks capitalised on his good fortune striking the ball firmly on both sides of the wicket and he found valuable support from loanee Laurie Evans. The Sussex player, who is spending a week with Surrey, was soon into his stride as the pair built up a valuable partnership following the loss of Jamie Smith. He had become Porter’s third wicket of the innings when he was bowled for 8 to give the paceman figures of 3 for 30 at that point.
Together, Jacks and Evans addressed a difficult position for their side with a positive approach. Jacks half-century arrived with a powerful cover drive off Beard and soon after, Evans drove straight to clear the ropes when facing Harmer.
Their 50 partnership arrived in just 67 balls with Jacks contributing 21 and Evans 28 and the pair continued to gather the runs at an agreeable rate until the return of Harmer paid dividends for the home side.
Jacks and Evans had put on 80 in 21 overs when the off-spinner had Jacks caught at short mid-wicket by Beard for 70 shortly before tea.
At the break, Evans had reached 41 from 69 balls that included 4 fours and a six while Rikki Clarke had still to get off the mark.
Jamie Porter grabbed two early wickets in as many deliveries when Surrey began their reply to the Essex first innings score of 262 all out in the Bob Willis Trophy clash at The Cloudfm County Ground and at lunch, the visitors had been reduced to 36 for 3.
The paceman struck with the last ball of the first over when he produced a superb delivery that found lift and the edge of Ryan Patel’s bat and Simon Harmer took the catch at second slip.
Then with the first ball of his next over, Porter removed Scott Borthwick who played the ball to mid-wicket and Feroze Khushi dived forward to complete the catch. Neither batsmen had got off the mark.
Will Jacks prevented the hat-trick when he dug out a good length ball before combining with Mark Stoneman to carry Surrey to 35 until Essex claimed their third wicket.
It was Harmer who was the successful bowler. Introduced into the attack after 7 overs, the off-spinner was in his seventh over when he turned a ball away from left-hander Stoneman and Alastair Cook took a catch low down at slip. The batsman had proved an obdurate customer spending 65 balls to record five singles before his dismissal.
Porter (5-1-19-2) eventually gave way to Sam Cook who switched ends and also produced a lively burst before the interval although both pacemen conceded boundaries to Jacks who wasted no opportunities to seek out boundaries helping himself to three off Porter and a couple from Cook.
At lunch, he had scored 28 from 49 balls with Jamie Smith still to get off the mark.
Essex had survived 16 balls before losing their remaining three overnight wickets in 18 balls at the start of the day whilst adding 9 runs. Rikki Clarke had Aaron Beard caught behind for 1 with a delivery that lifted off a good length and then had Sam Cook trapped in the crease for 3 before Gus Atkinson ended the innings when Harmer was caught in the covers for 19.
Evergreen 39-year-old Clarke was the pick of the Surrey attack with figures of 3 for 26 from 21 overs.
Feroze Khushi played a prominent role as Essex posted a total of 253 for 7 on the opening day of their Bob Willis Trophy duel with Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground.
He scored a vital 45 while featuring in a match-winning stand of 86 against Kent earlier in the week and followed it up with a well-constructed 66 in only his second first-class appearance to frustrate the Surrey attack.
Khushi arrived to do battle after James Taylor had removed skipper Tom Westley and Varun Chopra with successive deliveries to reduce Essex to a shaky 49 for 3 after the home side had won the toss.
But the 21-year-old right-hander displayed an unruffled temperament to put the innings back on an even keel with Alastair Cook.
Khushi pulled and drove with confidence to gather his runs from 108 deliveries, eight of which he dispatched to the boundary, but was eventually to perish somewhat tamely by chipping off-spinner Amar Virdi to Ryan Patel at mid-wicket.
It was Virdi who ended the innings of Cook. The former England captain looked in total control as he progressed to 42 out of 98 on the board, but he became a victim of the spinner’s third delivery of the innings when he edged a drive to Rikki Clarke at slip. Cook’s effort spanned 93 balls and contained five fours.
Earlier Nick Browne fell to debutant, Gus Atkinson for 10 before Taylor struck a double blow for a Surrey side well-below full-strength because of Test calls and injuries.
Westley was caught behind having just reached double-figures while Chopra was caught low down at second slip by Scott Borthwick to pave the way for Khushi to underline his promise.
Before his departure, the youngster shared in a stand of 67 with Paul Walter who was playing his first red-ball match since April 2018. He was in no mood to give his wicket away, only occasionally straying from an ultra-cautious approach to show aggressive interest.
Walter also shared in another half-century stand, one of 57 with Adam Wheater before he succumbed to Scott Borthwick in the leg-spinner’s first over of the match.
His contribution of 33 from 115 deliveries ended when he was bowled but in the context of the overall innings, it was a praiseworthy effort.
With the score 222 for 6, Wheater moved to his half-century on a day when he was also awarded his county cap along with Sam Cook.
He reached the milestone with the fifth boundary of his innings but he was dismissed soon afterwards for 52, having faced 101 balls when he cut a short ball from Clarke to Laurie Evans at gully.
That left Simon Harmer and Aaron Beard to take the county to their second batting point and the pair will resume the second day with Harmer unbeaten on 16 and Beard 1 not out.
Day Four begins at 11am on Tuesday and our Live Stream of the game is available via the Essex Cricket Matchzone – here.
Essex wicket-keeper Adam Wheater and paceman Sam Cook were awarded their County Caps today during Day One of Essex v Surrey in The Bob Willis Trophy.
Head Coach Anthony McGrath and Club Captain Tom Westley presented the pair with their caps, with the news being greeted by a loud roar and then a round of applause from the Essex changing room.
Wheater, who returned to Chelmsford in 2016 following a spell at Hampshire, has scored a total of 4,078 runs across all formats for the Club, whilst also having 151 dismissals to his name.
Cook is into his fourth season at Essex and has taken 98 wickets across all formats in that period, with his best bowling figures of 7 for 23 coming against Kent in a memorable match at Canterbury last year.
Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, said: “Both Adam and Sam have been outstanding since I came to Chelmsford and both have played a big part in our recent success.
“Adam is an extremely talented cricketer and a great figure in the dressing room, whilst we sometimes forget that Sam is just 23 as he’s a proper team player and an excellent influence on the younger lads in the side.
“Both of them really deserve it for their contribution to the Club and I know how much being awarded their caps means to them.”
Ahead of the new season, Members were invited to join our panel of guests to hear the latest updates from the Club for our third virtual Forum.
Members of the Club Committee were joined by Anthony McGrath, Tom Westley and Simon Harmer to discuss the team’s plans for new season which got underway at the weekend for the Bob Willis Trophy.
The Pre-Season Forum saw Members submit questions on a range of other discussion points, including 2020/21 Membership and hopes of welcoming spectators back into The Cloudfm County Ground.
Essex: Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Tom Westley (c), Varun Chopra, Feroze Khushi, Ryan ten Doeschate, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter, Matt Quinn.
Kent: Daniel Bell-Drummond (c), Jordan Cox, Jack Leaning, Ollie Robinson (wk), Heino Kuhn, Darren Stevens, Grant Stewart, Marcus O’Riordan, Matt Milnes, Hamidullah Qadri, Ivan Thomas.
Umpires: Neil Bainton & Ben Debenham
Match Referee: Steve Davies
Toss Won By: Kent, who elected to bat
Result: Essex won by 2 wickets
Thanks to Levett Consultancy who are our matchball sponsors for this match and all fixtures in the 2020 season.
End of Day One: Kent 344-6
End of Day Two: Essex 179-5, Kent 387
End of Day Three: Kent 387 & 112, Essex 298 & 0-0
End of Day Four: Kent 387 & 112, Essex 298 & 202-8
Essex pulled off a thrilling 2- wicket victory over Kent in their opening Bob Willis Trophy clash at The Cloudfm County Ground.
Chasing a modest 202 target, they were taken over the winning line by Adam Wheater and Sam Cook but not before the pendulum of fortunes had swung first in favour of one side and then the other.
When Essex lost Nick Browne, Tom Westley and Varun Chopra in the space of 13 runs while slumping to 61-4, the visitors were in the ascendancy.
Nightwatchman Jamie Porter had scored 3 but lasted for half an hour before he became Grant Stewart’s first wicket of the day allowing Alastair Cook to join regular opening partner at the crease.
The duo played sensibly and carried the total to 48 before being parted when Browne fell to slip a catch for 25 off the bowling of spinner Hamidullah Quadri. Stewart then took 2 further wickets in a spell of 3 for 17 but Alastair Cook, together with debutant Feroze Khushi, regained the initiative to establish the home side as favourites.
Cook was at his unflappable best while also encouraging his 21-year-old partner and together they added 86 in 25 overs. Khushi impressed with his neat footwork allowing him to display a number of impressive stokes including a number of drives and pulls on the leg side amongst his 7 boundaries.
It came as a surprise when Cook, having hit 7 boundaries in his 66, fell lbw to Ivan Thomas to leave Essex 147-5.
That was the start of a devastating spell by the paceman in which he took 4 wickets for a mere 8 runs in 17 balls.
Khushi was within 5 of his half-century in an effort spanning 87 balls when he was caught behind, while Ryan ten Doeschate and Simon Harmer were snared with successive deliveries. ten Doeschate became an lbw victim while Harmer was snapped up next ball by wicket-keeper Ollie Robinson.
That left Essex 171-8 and their opponents looking likely winners.
But cool heads prevailed as Wheater and Sam Cook, on a day when he was celebrating his 23rd birthday, got to the winning post as they steadily and skilfully collected the outstanding 31 runs.
Wheater finished on 26 from 46 balls whilst his partner ended with 15 also having faced 46 deliveries. Essex took 21 points from the encounter whilst Kent 7 claimed points.
Resilience and the ability not to panic under pressure were the key ingredients of the County’s double title successes last year and it was again very much in evidence in this match which augurs well for the weeks ahead.
An absorbing day’s play ended with Essex firm favourites to open the Bob Willis Trophy campaign with victory over Kent at The Cloudfm County Ground.
They go into the final day in search of a victory target of 202 with all their wickets intact after bowling their opponents out for 112 in their second innings capturing the last six Kent wickets for 26 runs as the visitors became demoralised by the county’s combination of pace and spin.
Off-spinner Simon Harmer did the major damage with 4 for 35 from 18.1 overs while Sam Cook took 3 for 19 from ten. Jamie Porter (2 for 31) and Matt Quinn (1 for 19) claimed the other wickets.
It all added up to a superb fightback by Essex after they trailed by 89 on first innings, being bowled out for 298 in reply to a total of 387.
The day started with Essex on 179 for 5 and Ryan ten Doeschate and Wheater putting together a stand of 69 before it was brought to an end in unfortunate circumstances.
Wheater, on 37, called for a single when he played a ball towards Heino Kuhn mid-wicket. But he was sent back and despite a desperate dive, failed to make his ground.
Ten Doeschate did not register his first boundary until facing his 105th delivery but was later to despatch Marcus O’Riordan for a four and six off successive deliveries.
The 40-year-old batsman was to find another useful partner in Harmer who contributed 29 during a 68 runs stand to carry the total to 281.
His departure led to a rapid conclusion to the Essex’s reply to Kent’s 387. After reaching 72, ten Doeschate’s effort ended when he was caught in the slips by Jack Leaning.
Matt Milnes was the successful bowler and the paceman then removed Sam Cook and Quinn with successive deliveries to end with 4 for 46 whilst Essex were left a tantalising two runs short of a third batting point.
Essex were soon putting their opponents to the sword when the visitors started their second innings with an 89 runs lead. Only Jordan Cox offered any real resistance as Kent were floundered against the penetrative Essex attack.
The 19-year-old opener resisted for 116 balls before he was bowled by Cook for 29 but wickets fell cheaply around him.
Jamie Porter made the initial breakthrough having Daniel Bell-Drummond caught behind for 5 and then Cook trapped Jack Leaning for 6 and when Quinn had Ollie Robinson superbly caught by Harmer at second slip, Kent were in trouble at 36 for 3.
First innings centurion Heino Kuhn had scored 17 when he became the first of Harmer’s quartet of victims before the off-spinner accounted for Darren Stevens who drove the ball into the hands of Tom Westley at long-on.
Porter returned to remove Grant Stewart to leave the visitors 95 for 6 but all the while, Cox had remained resolute and determined until he was one of three batsmen to depart with the total on 100 as Kent disintegrated.
It was Cook who breached his defences with the assistance of an inside edge whilst Harmer claimed Marcus O’Riordan and Matt Milnes before Cook wound-up the innings.
Essex were left with just one over to face at the end of the day and nightwatchman Jamie Porter effectively resisted without a problem and he and Nick Browne will resume in the morning to launch the Essex drive towards another victory at Chelmsford.
At the close of play on day two, Essex were 179 for 5 with Ryan ten Doeschate unbeaten 22 and Adam Wheater 24 not out and their side needing 9 runs to avert the possibility of following on.
Nick Browne and Varun Chopra combined for a 79 runs third wicket partnership but either side of that, wickets fell cheaply.
Kent having resumed on 344 for 6 were soon dismissed for 387 but their bowlers made life difficult for the Essex batsmen. They were given an early boost when Matt Milnes trapped Alastair Cook in front of his stumps for 8 with 19 on the board and soon after lunch, evergreen 44-year-old Darren Stevens had Tom Westley caught at second slip for 13 to leave the home side 41 for 2.
Browne and Chopra then played with admirable defensive technique and shot-selection to steady the ship and brought up their half-century stand in 16 overs. Browne mixed caution with a number of sweetly-driven shots whilst Chopra, who did not play a single Championship match in 2019, matched the left-hander for concentration and disciplined graft.
But having contributed 41 and with the score on 120, Chopra attempted to paddle-sweep a delivery from off-spinner Marcus O’Riordan and was bowled to give the bowler his maiden first-class wicket.
Four runs later, debutant Feroze Khushi became a second O’Riordan victim when he was caught at short leg for 2 after prodding at a delivery.
Browne brought up his fifty with a single off Grant Stewart having faced 139 deliveries and collected 9 boundaries but having advanced to 61, he dragged a ball from Stevens onto his stumps. It was a disappointing end to an innings that had seen the left-hander bat responsibly for 228 minutes.
It was left to ten Doeschate and Wheater to avoid further problems and the pair batted through the remaining hour together adding 35 runs in an unbroken stand.
Earlier, Kent lost their remaining four overnight wickets for the addition of 43 runs as Essex prospered with the second new ball that was taken at the start of the day.
With the second delivery of the morning, Jamie Porter pinned Heino Kuhn in the crease with the South African unable to add to his fine 140 of the previous day.
O’Riordan and Milnes added 37 in 11 overs before Simon Harmer ended a personal barren spell by having Milnes caught for 19 to give the off-spinner his first wicket in his 27th over of the innings. In his next over, Harmer accounted for Hamidullah Qadri to finish with 2 for 110 and then had a hand in the last wicket to fall when he took a slip catch to give Matt Quinn the wicket of Ivan Thomas.
The Kent total was the highest opposition score by any county at Chelmsford in red-ball cricket since 2014 when Leicestershire scored 433 all out.
A superb century from Heino Kuhn enabled Kent to overcome a disastrous start and take the day’s honours in their inaugural Bob Willis Trophy encounter with Essex at The Cloudfm County Ground.
After coming in with his side deep in trouble having lost three wickets for just 23 runs, the South African went on to score an unbeaten 140 as the visitors closed on 344 for 6 with Marcus O’Riordan 20 not out.
It was Kuhn’s maiden first-class century for the county and was full of aggressive strokes as he moved into three figures from 167 balls and collected 14 boundaries on the way.
Although 10 months have passed since Essex last played a first-class fixture, the new-ball pairing of Jamie Porter and Sam Cook were soon making up for lost time as they reduced the visitors to 23 for 3 inside 6 overs.
Their combined effort plunged their opponents into early trouble before Kuhn arrived to mastermind the rescue. He featured in a, partnership of 150 with Ollie Robinson to take the initiative away from the hosts.
After Daniel Bell-Drummond fell leg before wicket to Cook, Jordan Cox was strangled down the leg side as Adam Wheater accepted an easy catch off Porter’s bowling before Jack Leaning, making his first appearance for Kent after a winter move from Yorkshire and looking to get off the mark, pulled a long hop to debutant Feroze Khushi at mid-wicket giving Cook his second scalp.
Then Kuhn and Robinson took control with the latter scoring 78 before Porter had him caught behind when he found the edge. But any hopes Essex entertained of making further inroads were eclipsed by two further productive partnerships.
Darren Stevens scored 36 while Kuhn added 80 before falling to a smart catch by Nick Browne at cover point to provide Porter with his third success and leave Kent 253 for 5. Then, Grant Stewart joined Kuhn in a partnership worth 53 in 13 overs that carried the total past 300 before Stewart was trapped in the crease by Ryan ten Doeschate to end his innings of 37 from 41 balls.
But there was to be no further success for the 2019 County Champions. Leading off-spinner Simon Harmer was left wicketless after sending down 26 overs that yielded 104 runs.
Essex included Feroze Khushi in the line-up with the 21-year-old debutant becoming the latest Academy player off the production line to appear for the first team.
Day Three begins at 11am on Tuesday and our Live Stream of the game is available via the Essex Cricket Matchzone – here.
View the photo gallery of the match against Kent in the Bob Willis Trophy at The Cloudfm County Ground through the lens of our Club Photographer, Nick Wood.
The pendulum continued to swing at The Cloudfm County Ground and finally concluded with Sam Cook hitting the winning runs to secure the victory.
Scroll through the images and hit the i for further information.
© Unshaken Photography
Thursday evening presents another opportunity for Members to join our virtual Forum. Chairman, John Faragher and the Club’s Committee would like to welcome supporters ahead of the new campaign as we build for the County Cricket’s return.
Following our previous Members’ Forum in mid-July, the event takes place at 6pm on Thursday 30 July and will look ahead to the 2020 season with our panel of Club guests. John Faragher will be also be joined on the night by Chief Executive Derek Bowden, Deputy Chairman Peter Northfield and Chairman of the Cricket Advisory Group, Ronnie Irani.
In addition, we are delighted to have representatives from the First XI playing squad. Head Coach Anthony McGrath, Vitality Blast Captain Simon Harmer and Club Captain Tom Westley will be in attendance to share the latest updates from the squad and update Members on how the squad’s preparation have gone ahead of the Bob Willis Trophy commencing.
Members are welcome to submit questions in advance with the main topic of discussion focusing on the Club’s Membership plans for 2020/21. This will be a chance to hear the benefits being put in place following the fantastic support Members have given the Club since the postponement of the season. Questions can be sent in via email: [email protected]
We look forward to welcoming you for the event and Members will have now received their access link to join via Zoom. Should you have any queries regarding accessing the event, then please get in touch with the Club on [email protected].
Tuesday evening’s edition of Through The Essex Ages has been postponed until a later date due to the current friendly match taking place and Members’ Forum also set for later this week on Thursday.
A look back at the 2010s will be rescheduled and a new date will be announced soon.
However, you are welcome to watch the previous episode in the Q&A series so far with some legendary guests along the way. The 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s have resurrected some amazing memories and discussion from the guests and are available via our Essex Cricket TV YouTube channel.
