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Essex County Cricket Club can today confirm Matt Coles has left the Club following the conclusion of the 2019 season.

The all-rounder joined Essex in 2017 from Kent and played 22 matches across all formats for Club, taking 38 wickets whilst scoring 187 runs.

The Club would like to thank Matt for his efforts on the field and wish him the best of luck for the future.

Essex’s Simon Harmer and Kent’s Darren Stevens have become the first ever players to share the PCA’s Player of the Month award, after a public vote to decide the winner extraordinarily resulted in a tie.

The duo were the clear frontrunners, both finishing with 43% – or 1,013 individual votes – to their names. Kyle Abbott, who produced historic match figures of 17-86 earlier this month, finished third with 10%, and Worcestershire’s T20 hero Moeen Ali came fourth with 4%.

The four-man shortlist had previously been selected via the PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings, with the nominees scoring more MVP points than anyone else in September.

Fans who voted via the PCA and Sky Sports websites then had the final say, but there was nothing to choose between two of domestic cricket’s outstanding performers, a fitting end to a dramatic summer.

Harmer wins his second Player of the Month award of the 2019 season having picked up his first in May, whilst Stevens joins Liam Dawson (April), Hassan Azad (June), Ravi Ashwin (July) and Tom Banton (August) in receiving the accolade this year.

Off-spinner Harmer has enjoyed an outstanding summer, and saved much of his best form for the last weeks of the season. His combined Blast Finals Day figures of 7-35 were the best ever recorded on the day, and he went on to smash 18 off just seven balls to win the final.

In the Championship, Harmer claimed three five-wicket hauls and hit an unbeaten 50 during Essex’s successful Division One title race run-in.

“It’s been a great month.

“I can’t pick out a particular highlight. Obviously Blast Finals Day was an extremely exciting occasion and everything fell into place for us at Edgbaston – it was great to win.

“Down at Somerset I think we got ourselves into a little bit of trouble trying to play out a draw on that pitch. In the end, it was the relief of finally lifting the trophy at the culmination of such a great season that made it a real highlight.”

On top of team honours, Harmer has received the notable personal accolade of being named the PCA’s Overall Most Valuable Player for 2019, after accumulating a massive 609 MVP points throughout the season.

“I think the MVP is a true reflection of your performances throughout the year, so it was extremely satisfying to be named the Overall MVP. Getting a £10,000 bonus never hurts, either.”

Already a Specsavers County Championship and Vitality Blast champion, 2019 Overall MVP and double Player of the Month award winner, Harmer has the opportunity to put the cherry on the cake by picking up the NatWest PCA Players’ Player of the Year award at the 50th NatWest PCA Awards on Wednesday.

“I’ve never had the opportunity to go to the Awards because I’ve always gone back to South Africa to play. I’ve heard good things so it should be a really great night.

“I’m just incredibly honoured to be voted as one of the four best players in the country by my fellow professionals.”

Somerset v Essex
Specsavers County Championship
Monday 23 September – Thursday 26 September
The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Somerset Team: Murali Vijay, Steve Davies (wk), Tom Abell (c), James Hildreth, Tom Banton, George Bartlett, Lewis Gregory, Dom Bess, Craig Overton, Roelof van der Merwe, Jack Leach

Essex Team: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Aron Nijjar, Jamie Porter, Sam Cook

Toss: Somerset won the toss and elected to bat first.

Umpires: Robert Bailey & Alexander Wharf

Result: Match Drawn

Essex crowned Specsavers County Championship Champions 2019

Day Four: Reaction – Ryan ten Doeschate

Day Four: Close of Play Report

ESSEX ARE CHAMPIONS!

Ryan ten Doeschate’s men successfully battled through a nervous last day to gain the draw they needed to lift the 2019 title but there were a lot of twists and turns along the way.

Alastair Cook needed to show his resolve and textbook technique on a pitch that took prolific turn from the start of the match. He scored 53 out of 141 in his side’s first innings and was unbeaten on 30, when the match ended to leave Essex as Champions!

A match in which the weather played a significant part, when approximately 250 overs were lost, progressed into a most exciting climax although Essex supporters might not have appreciated the dramatic events after tea.

At that stage Essex were 118-4 and seemingly heading towards the draw they needed but in amazing fashion, they lost six wickets in 32 balls for just 15 runs to the spin twin threat offered by Jack Leach and Roelof van der Merwe who shared the remaining six wickets as Essex were bowled out for 141.

Needing victory to snatch the title from their opponents, Somerset forfeited their second innings leaving Essex 63 runs to win with more than an hour in the game spare.

However, the turn and prodigious spin enjoyed by the two home spinners, plus Dom Bess was counteracted by the pragmatic resilience offered by Nick Browne and Cook who survived 17 overs whilst adding 38 runs before they were eventually parted.

But by then Somerset were ready to accept the runners-up spot and after one more over, the teams shook hands on a draw leaving Essex to celebrate their second title in a week after their success in the Vitality Blast last Saturday.

A delayed start until midday had cost Somerset vital overs but a stand of 67 between Cook and Tom Westley carried the total to 102 before their liaison ended as Leach took the first of his five wickets with the dismissal of Cook.

His removal began a rapid decline as the remaining eight wickets fell in 19 overs for 39 runs including that of Westley who had played with a maturity to score 36 that spanned two and a quarter hours before he edged van der Merwe to slip.

As the wickets fell, the belief that the home side could pull off a stunning victory was apparent and only increased with as many as seven fielders plus the wicket-keeper crowding around the bat. Only Adam Wheater of the remaining batsman managed to reach double figures as wickets tumbled with Leach and van der Merwe causing mayhem.

Three wickets fell in seven balls to leave Essex 126 for seven whilst the last three wickets tumbled in just seven balls for 15 runs, and it was no surprise when Somerset captain Tom Abell opted to forfeit his side’s second innings before allowing his spin trio loose once again.

But against the mastery of Cook, superbly supported by Browne, Somerset were unable to make the inroads the hosts anticipated.

When the last hour started with a minimum of 16 overs to be bowled, Essex were 1 without loss and despite the presence of the eight men still around the bat, the balance gradually swung away from Somerset as Cook and Browne took root.

There was just one over of the minimum allocation remaining when Browne edged to slip for 10 but after one further over, Abell gave up the chase leaving Cook and Westley punching the air in delight having secured the draw that Essex needed to lift their second Championship title in three years.

Day Four: Tea Report

Alastair Cook contributed a half-century and Tom Westley an unbeaten 32 to take Essex to within the cusp of a draw against Somerset that would give them their second County Championship title in three years.

At tea, Essex were 118 for 4 with a minimum of 19 overs remaining in the title decider.

Essex had started the afternoon session on 36 for 1 but Cook and Westley addressed the threat offered by the trio of spinners employed by the West Country outfit. Both became more comfortable at the crease to post a half-century stand spanning 21 overs that also importantly used up valuable time.

There was also a couple of overs lost due to a short sharp shower as Essex moved steadily on towards safety and the title.

The vigilant and careful Cook arrived at his half-century with the seventh boundary of his 147 ball innings with a drive through mid-wicket that also brought the total into three figures.

However, having acknowledged the warm appreciation of his teammates and many Essex supporters in the crowd, he was caught at short-leg off the next delivery to give Jack Leach the first of his two wickets.

With seven men and the wicket-keeper around the bat, Dan Lawrence was also quickly removed, caught by Craig Overton at short gully without score off Leach.

With fielders crowding around the bat, Westley played with some confidence whilst Ravi Bopara survived for 18 minutes before he pushed forward and was caught at silly mid-off for a single to leave the visitors 111 for 4.

Westley though remained resilient and at tea, he had batted just short of two hours for 32 out of 118 for 4 and he will resume with Ryan ten Doeschate who has still to get off the mark.

Day Four: Lunch Report

Just 12 overs were possible before lunch at Taunton on the final day of the season where Essex moved from their overnight 25 for 0 onto 36 for 1 with Nick Browne the man dismissed for 18.

Rain, that had caused the third day to be totally washed out, had prevented a start until midday and with the floodlights on, spinner Roelof van der Merwe bowled the opening over merely to allow fellow spinners Jack Leach and Dom Bess to switch ends.

Against a close-set field, two maiden overs marked the commencement of play as Browne defended the first over before Alastair Cook played out Leach’s first six balls of the day. Then the rain returned briefly to interrupt the match for another couple of overs.

Upon the restart and facing Bess, Browne collected the first run of the day and the first since tea on day two when the weather had forced the players off the field. Then Cook added to his score, moving from 5 to nine with a sweep to the boundary.

There were a number of leg before wicket appeals, none of which impressed umpires Rob Bailey or Alex Wharf as Browne and Cook survived, often uncomfortably, the first ten overs of the day, with Cook having scored 8 from 33 balls and his opening partner 2 from 27 deliveries.

But Somerset were to find the breakthrough at the end of the next over with the score on 35 when Browne reached forward against Bess and was caught by James Hildreth at silly mid-off. That brought Tom Westley to the crease but he was only in the middle for an over and had still to get off the mark when rain swept across the ground taking the players to an early lunch.

Cook will resume on 14 having faced 64 balls and Essex will have a minimum of 58 overs after lunch to avoid defeat in order to clinch the Championship title.

Day Three: Close of Play Report

The weather ruined any hope of play at Taunton where not a ball was bowled on the penultimate day of the County Championship season.

A series of pitch inspections failed to bring any on-field action apart from the sight of umpires Rob Bailey and Alex Wharf coming and going.

Overnight and early morning rain left the outfield wet and a delayed start was announced and following a midday inspection, an early lunch was taken with a further look at conditions planned for 1:10pm.

The weather continued to intervene and rain accompanied the officials off the field by the time their third inspection of the day had taken place at 2:30pm when an early tea was announced.

However, rain was always hovering around occasionally offering a further dampening to the Taunton Ground and it was no surprise when after the 4:30pm examination play was abandoned for the day.

When play does restart, Essex will resume on 25 without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings score of 203 all out.

Day Three: Tea Report

Not a ball has yet been bowled on Day Three at Taunton.

After play was washed out in the morning, an early lunch was scheduled with a pitch inspection planned for 1:10 pm but with rain falling, a further look at conditions was arranged for 2:30pm.

However, the damp underfoot conditions deteriorated still further with heavy rain before that eased and eventually stopped.

Umpires Rob Bailey and Alex Wharf made their way to the middle with their umbrellas for company and which proved useful implements for prodding the outfield to determine the level of saturation. But before long, their use took on a more familiar feature being unfurled to protect the officials from the rain that had now re-commenced as they made their way back to the pavilion.

The result of the inspection was that an early tea would be taken at 3pm.

Day Three: Lunch Report

There was no play before lunch at Taunton where Essex were 25 without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings total of 203 all out in their title clash.

Heavy overnight rain, that had ceased by 9am then returned intermittently to ensure a delayed start because of a wet outfield with the umpires deciding to inspect at 11am.

The umpires were not happy with the outfield and decided to inspect again at 12pm. But before the second inspection of the day could be undertaken, the weather closed in to leave the playing areas that were not covered extremely wet thus cancelling the scheduled inspection.

An early lunch was taken at 12:40pm with an intended inspection scheduled to take place at 1:20pm.

Day Two: Close of Play Report

Needing only to avoid defeat to Somerset at Taunton, Essex were 25 without loss in reply to the home side’s 203 all out when rain prevented any play after tea leaving the visitors two days to deny their opponent’s title aspirations.

So far, the weather has played an important part in this title decider with 116 overs of play lost in the game so far.

The visitors were able to extend their lead at the head of Division One to 14 points by the conclusion of the home side’s innings that then left openers Nick Browne and Alastair Cook with 40 minutes batting before tea.

With survival the prime target, both survived the 11 overs that were possible although Browne did help himself to a trio of boundaries amongst his 16 runs whilst the ever-watchful Cook was 5 not out.

The rain brought an early conclusion to proceedings and also accounted for a delayed start by 90 minutes before Somerset resumed on 75-4.

Simon Harmer took 6 balls to remove George Bartlett but it was Sam Cook who clinched a second bowling point when he trapped Lewis Gregory in the crease for 17 after the all-rounder had plundered four boundaries in one over from Harmer.

Lunch was taken on 126-6 but three balls into the next session, Harmer claimed Tom Abell for 45 with a well-flighted delivery. By the end of the over, the bowler had completed his tenth 5-fer of the summer when Craig Overton failed to pick the quicker ball and was struck on the pads.

That brought Roelof van der Merwe to the crease and he immediately swept Harmer for two sixes to carry the score onto 144 when Cook claimed the visitors third bowling point when uprooting the middle stump of Dom Bess.

Hopes of an immediate conclusion to the Cidermen’s innings proved ill-founded as they were frustrated by van der Merwe and Jack Leach in a last-wicket liaison that brought a batting point for the home side and a 59 runs stand spanning 12 overs.

Leach took successive fours off Harmer down to third man before van der Merwe clobbered sixes when facing Aron Nijjar and Harmer, the second of which brought the total past 200.

Nijjar ended the jollities of the pair when he breached van der Merwe’s intended reverse sweep to end a lively 60 runs innings whilst Leach was left 11 not out.

Cook ended with 4 for 26 and the relentless Harmer who bowled unchanged sending down 27 overs, of which 5 were maidens, taking 5 for 105.

Day Two: Tea Report

Faced with 11 overs before tea, Essex openers Nick Browne and Alastair Cook reached the interval unscathed with the visitors 25 without loss in reply to Somerset’s first innings score of 203 all out. Browne was unbeaten on 16 and Cook 5 not out.

The home side needing victory to deny Essex their second Championship title in three years, were sustained by a belligerent 60 in 51 balls from Roelof van der Merwe who arrived at the crease with his side struggling on 130-8 after they had lost two early wickets for the addition of just 4 runs to their lunch score.

Inevitably, it was Simon Harmer who played a prominent part starting with his third ball of the post-lunch session when he beat Tom Abell in flight and then turn.

Abell departed for 45 and three balls later, Harmer produced a quicker and flatter delivery to have Craig Overton trapped in the crease for a duck. It was the fifth wicket of the innings for the South African and the tenth occasion this season he has bagged a Championship 5-fer.

The arrival of van der Merwe though invigorated the West Country side as he opted to produce the long-handle approach to the Essex off-spinner.

He swept Harmer for 6 and then shortly afterwards, reverse-swept the bowler over the ropes.

Sam Cook flattened middle stump when bowling to Dom Bess with a superb in-swinging delivery to gain a third bowling pint for the visitors as Somerset recoiled to 144-9 but van der Merwe was to find a useful ally in Jack Leach.

The number 11, who produced heroics with the bat for England this year in a tailender’s capacity, got off the mark with successive fours down to third man off Cook and was happy to feed the strike to van der Merwe as the pair added valuable runs.

With Aron Nijjar brought into action to replace Cook, van der Merwe swung the leg-spinner over the ropes to reach 42-ball half-century that also realised the 50 partnership in 10 overs.

And van der Merwe also deposited Harmer over the ropes again before Nijjar ended the Essex frustration when he bowled the cavalier batsman around his legs leaving Leach 11 not out.

Harmer ended with figures of 27-5-105-5 and Cook 19-9-26-4 leaving the Essex openers to see out a potentially testing 40 minutes until tea.

A scrambled single by Browne got the score moving before he then drove splendidly through point to post the first boundary of the reply. Cook meanwhile was content to play a straight bat through to tea when Essex trailed by 178 runs.

As the players left the field, heavy rain started to put a threat to any further play in the day.

Day Two: Lunch Report

Essex captured two wickets in the 15 overs that were possible before lunch whilst Somerset added 51 runs to their overnight score to reach 126-6 at the interval.

Sam Cook and Simon Harmer were the successful bowlers with Cook advancing his figures to 3 for 14 whilst Harmer has now taken 3 for 60 from 18 overs.

Because of heavy early morning rain that left the outfield damp, the start of play was delayed by 90 minutes and seven balls into the session, George Bartlett was caught at leg slip by Ravi Bopara off Harmer for 5.

New batsman Lewis Gregory though took on the Essex prolific off-spinner and got his score going with four boundaries in an over with a mixture of luck and agreeable strokes. His first four was steered past backward square leg, the next was a streaky effort off the inside edge past the wicket-keeper followed by another edge before a fine cover drive took the total to 87-5.

Three balls later, Tom Abell gathered a boundary off Cook but the young paceman removed Gregory in his next over to give the table-toppers their second bowling point.

Gregory came down the pitch to Cook and was struck on the pads by a
straight ball giving umpire Alex Wharf an easy decision to send the batsman on his way for 17 and leave Cook with figures for 3 for 9 at that stage.

Somerset though were sustained by an unbroken partnership between captain Abell and Dom Bess that produced 30 runs in 9 overs with Abell arriving at lunch on 45 and Bess 10 not out.

Day One Match Highlights:

Just 27.5 overs were possible in the County Championship decider at Taunton where Somerset reached 75-4 before persistent rain ended play for the day just before lunch.

Sam Cook took two early wickets for the visitors before the irrepressible Simon Harmer took his tally of victims in the competition to 80 with the dismissals of James Hildreth and Tom Banton.

With his first ball of the match, Cook had Murali Vijay picked up by Adam Wheater for 6 when the wicket-keeper dived to his right to take a one-handed catch as the bowler seamed a delivery away from the one-time Essex opener.

Then with the last ball of his second over, the emerging bowler angled a ball into Steve Davies and struck gold and the pads as his passionate appeal found favour with umpire Alex Wharf.

The highly experienced Hildreth joined captain Tom Abell and with the total on 27, they found themselves facing Harmer whose introduction coincided with the floodlights turned on.

Hildreth swept Harmer for a couple of fours although their stand of 47 was punctuated by a series of leg before shouts that failed to find favour with the officials until Harmer found the key to unlock the door.

The off-spinner was in his seventh over when Hildreth, deep in the crease, was trapped lbw for 32. That gave Essex their first bowling point and two balls later, Banton was beaten by turn to leave Somerset 61-4.

The heavy clouds were already gathering and it came as little surprise when rain forced the players off the field and curtailed action for the day with proceedings formally called off at 4:50 pm.

Abell will resume on 24 and George Bartlett on 5 with Cook and Harmer seeking to add to their figures of 2 for 5 and 2 for 24 respectively.

Essex went into the match with just two front-line pace bowlers having opted to include Aron Nijjar on a pitch already taking spin at this early stage of the game.

The left-arm orthodox spinner, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow last played a Championship match for the county at the end of the 2015 season.

Day One: Tea Report

Persistent rain ensured that there would be no play in the afternoon in the County Championship decider at Taunton where Somerset had reached 75-4 in the 27.5 overs that were possible before lunch.

The Cidermen began the match 12 points adrift of the table-toppers but were destined to fall a further point adrift as an outcome of the truncated play that did take place.

James Hildreth top-scored with 32 but two wickets apiece for Sam Cook and Simon Harmer ensured a satisfactory start to the match for the visitors on a pitch already offering marked turn.

Cook struck twice in 12 deliveries, the first with his initial delivery of the match and currently enjoys figures of 8.5-5-5-2 whilst Harmer has figures of 10-3-24-2.

The off-spinner was introduced into the attack for the ninth over of the game and was destined to claim two wickets in three deliveries courtesy of leg before decisions, one of which accounted for Hildreth.

Following their Vitality Blast success on Saturday, Essex are looking to add the County Championship title to complete a memorable year and their most successful since 1984 in terms of trophies when they won both the Championship and John Player League.

Day One: Lunch Report

Sam Cook and Simon Harmer shared the wickets as Essex reduced Somerset to 75-4 before rain brought an early lunch on the opening day of the County Championship clash at Taunton.

When the rain arrived thirteen minutes before the scheduled break, Essex had extended their 12-points lead by another point. Tom Abell was unbeaten on 24 and George Bartlett 7 not out.

Cook gave the table-toppers a wonderful start with two wickets in his first twelve deliveries to reduce the home aside, who elected to bat after winning the toss, to 14-2. Although the visitors were then held-up by a 47 runs partnership between James Hildreth and Tom Abell, Harmer struck twice in three balls to reclaim the initiative.

After Jamie Porter had conceded 7 runs from the first over of the game, Cook raced in to strike with his first ball of the morning when he seamed a ball away from Murali Vijay and Adam Wheater flung himself to his right to complete a wonderful one-handed catch.

Then with the final ball of his second over, Cook, who has been in such excellent form with the ball took his tally to 30 wickets for the seasons, and 19 in four games, when opener Steve Davies was struck on the pads by a ball angled into him. Umpire Alex Wharf deliberated for some time before raising the finger of fate to send the batsman on his way.

Cook was rested with figures of 6-4-2-2 as Harmer joined the action at the end of the eighth over with the scoreboard showing 27-2 and the floodlights turned on.

Hildreth decided to make the sweep shot an important addition in his attempt to negate the effect of the South African spinner and collected a couple of boundaries in one particular over.

However, Harmer was to eventually have the measure of the Somerset batsman who had scored 32 out of 61 when he was trapped deep in the crease and was sent on his way by umpire Rob Bailey.

Two deliveries later, Tom Banton also took the walk of doom when he failed to negotiate Harmer’s turn and was lbw without score. That gave Harmer his 80th Championship wicket of the season and the bowler figures of 7-2-14-2 at that stage.

Essex went into the match with just two front-line pace bowlers having opted to include Aron Nijjar. The left-arm orthodox spinner, who celebrates his 25th birthday tomorrow last played a Championship match for the county at the end of the 2015 season.

But with the Taunton pitch expected to take prolific turn, and following a couple of memorable performances in the Vitality Blast Finals Day two days ago, Nijjar was given the nod to add support to the prolific Harmer.

Sussex Sharks v Essex Eagles
Vitality Blast
Thursday 22 August
The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford

Sussex Sharks Team: Phil Salt, Luke Wright (c), Laurie Evans, Alex Carey (wk), David Wiese, Harry Finch, Chris Jordan, Will Beer, Danny Briggs, Jason Behrendorff, Reece Topley

Essex Eagles Team: Cameron Delport, Tom Westley, Adam Wheater (wk), Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer (c), Mohammad Amir, Aaron Beard, Adam Zampa

Umpires: Rob Bailey, Alex Wharf and Jeff Evans

Toss: Sussex Sharks won the toss and elected to bowl first

Result: Essex Eagles won by 9 runs

Match Highlights:

Match Report

THE Eagles kept their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals alive when they beat top of the table Sussex Sharks by 9 runs at Hove on Thursday night.

After Dan Lawrence had struck an unbeaten 59 out of the Essex total of 168 for five, Mohammad Amir produced his best T20 figures for the visitors returning 4 for 29 as the home side reached 159 for nine at the conclusion of their 20 overs.

The Eagles were given a boost with three wickets in the first four overs when Amir removed the dangerous Phil Salt and Luke Wright whilst Aaron Beard had Alex Carey caught at cover with none of the three batsmen toping six runs.

However, David Wiese and Laurie Evans retrieved a concerning situation for Sussex with a 65 runs stand in seven overs to put the Eagles under some pressure but with the score on 90 just after the half-way stage, Paul Walter had Evans caught by Simon Harmer for 35 and six runs later the fielder turned successful bowler when he trapped Harry Finch in the crease for a duck.

Chris Jordan joined Wiese as 34 runs were posted in less than four overs before the Eagles skipper had Wiese lbw for 66 to effectively leave Essex in the ascendancy with the Sharks now 130 for six in the 16th over

Amir conceded 13 off the next over but after Adam Zampa picked up the wicket of Will Beer, the Pakistani paceman had Chris Jordan caught by Ravi Bopara at deep mid-wicket and in the same over bowled Jason Behrendorff.

Beard sent down he last over but Sussex were only able to score 8 of the 18 runs they required for victory to leave the Eagles with their third victory of the season in the competition.

The Sharks had won the toss and put their opponents into bat. Both opening bowlers, Behrendorff and Reece Topley saw Tom Westley cover drive their first deliveries to the boundary through the off side while the last ball of Topley’s opening over also raced to the boundary off Westley’s bat.

Westley also helped himself to a couple of fours in Behrendorff’s second over, the third of the innings but then, having scored 9 of the 28 runs on the board by the fourth over, Cameron Delport pulled a ball from former Essex paceman Topley into the hands of Salt at mid-wicket.

The powerplay was completed with the Eagles 43 for 2 having lost Adam Wheater who was run out for 6 and then Westley, having included 6 fours in posting 34 out of 52 in 8 overs drove to Behrendorff in the deep to become the third wicket to fall.

By the halfway stage of their innings, the Eagles were 68 for 3 and struggling to force the tempo against some shrewd Sharks bowling. However, Lawrence pressed the accelerator pedal striking straight sixes from successive deliveries by slow left-armer Danny Briggs that helped carry the total onto 84 before the departure of Ryan ten Doeschate, caught at mid-wicket for 9.

Bopara joined Lawrence and the pair almost doubled the score with a fifth-wicket partnership worth 82 in 8 overs.
Lawrence drove successive straight sixes when facing Wiese in an over that yielded 17 runs for the Eagles and another 13 runs emanated from over 16 during which Lawrence arrived at his third half-century in seven Twenty 20 innings this summer. He had faced 29 balls with six boundaries, four of which were maximum blows.

With four overs remaining, Essex were 130 for 4 and it was Bopara who added the impetus in the final stages clubbing sixes when facing Jordan and Topley whilst also collecting a couple of neatly steered fours down to the vacant third man area.

He was finally out for 45 when caught by Jordan in the deep off Topley of the penultimate ball of the innings but the fine partnership between him and the impressive Lawrence was to prove so significant in the final outcome.

Kent v Essex
Specsavers County Championship
Sunday 18 August – Wednesday 21 August
The Spitfire Ground, St Lawrence, Canterbury

Kent Team: Sean Dickson, Zak Crawley, Daniel Bell-Drummond, Heino Kuhn, Sam Billings(c), Ollie Robinson (wk), Darren Stevens, Ollie Rayner, Harry Podmore, Matthew Milnes, Mitchell Claydon

Essex Team: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Mohammad Amir, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter

Toss: Uncontested, Essex elected to bowl

Umpires: Paul Baldwin & Ian Blackwell

Result: Essex win by 3 wickets

Day Three : Match Highlights

Day Three Reaction: Adam Wheater

Day Three Close of Play Report:

In its 168 years, Canterbury Cricket Week has never witnessed anything quite like it as Essex overcame a first-innings deficit of 112 to land an astonishing three-wicket Specsavers County Championship win with over a day to spare.

A devastating 7 for 23 by Sam Cook set up the opportunity for an Essex victory before Adam Wheater with an unbeaten 30 eased his side across the line to a 3-wicket success.

Cook totally wrecked the Kent second innings to leave Essex requiring 153 for victory after the home side had been bowled out for 40. However, there were a few alarm bells along the way before Wheater’s magnificent effort – and supported by 30 Simon Harmer – took the team to a 6th successive Championship victory of the campaign.

Alastair Cook (29) and Tom Westley (25) had put Essex into a favourable position after the early loss of Nick Browne as the pair posted a 46-run stand, but then the loss of three wickets in 11 balls gave Kent new impetus.

The dismissal of Cook was followed by Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara, who both ended with a pair to leave Essex still requiring 101 runs for victory.

Ryan ten Doeschate joined Westley in carrying the score to 82, before Westley was bowled. Two runs later, the Essex skipper joined him back in the Pavilion having scored 17.

Now 84 for 6 and with their backs to the wall Essex found two valiant heroes in Wheater and Harmer who steadily and selectively gathered runs. They pushed on to reach a half-century stand in 15 overs when Harmer found the ropes at deep mid-wicket.

The 7th wicket pair had taken their side to within 12 runs of victory when Harmer became the 15th lbw victim of the match to end the 75-minute liaison with Wheater.

But the latter was not to be denied his glory. Joined by Mohammad Amir he ensured that there were to be no further setbacks with Amir striking the winning run in what is the last red-ball game of his career.

Wheater had faced 65 balls and batted for 99 minutes, collecting just two boundaries, in an invaluable contribution as Essex reached the target in 42.1 often nervy overs.

Earlier Sam Cook had wrecked the home side’s second innings as they slumped to their lowest score against Essex in the Club’s history.

He and Amir removed the top four in the order for only 7 runs before Cook picked up his third wicket of the innings to leave Kent 9 for five.

The 22-year-old fast bowler bagged both Heino Kuhn and Darren Stevens in his 5th over and then Harry Podmore in his next, to enjoy figures of 6 for 12 at that stage with the scoreboard showing Kent on 23 for 8.

Ollie Rayner and Matt Milnes scrambled 13 runs, which ended as the highest partnership of the innings before Cook saw off Rayner and in the next over. Jamie Porter wrapped up the innings by re-arranging Milnes stumps for 9.

Amir finished with 2 for 16 and match figures of 6 for 64 whilst Cook returned career match-best figures of 12 for 65.

Essex take 19 points from the match to further endorse the league leaders position with a hard-fought victory and with a day to spare.

Day Three Tea Report:

Sam Cook produced a remarkable spell of bowling as Kent were dismissed for 40 in 18.1 overs to leave Essex requiring 153 runs for victory on what has been an incredible day’s play at Canterbury.

At tea, Essex were 28-1 having lost Nick Browne for 3, but Alastair Cook reached the interval unbeaten on 19 with Tom Westley yet to get off the mark.

The visitors had been dismissed for 114 in the morning to give Kent a lead of 112 runs but Cook was to prove a daunting opponent to the home side as he spearheaded a revival in the league leaders fortunes.

The 22 year-old returned career-best figures of 7 for 23 as a series of batsmen failed to contend with the movement he enjoyed to such devastating effect.

From the moment he pinned Sean Dickson in the crease with his second delivery and without a run on the board, he caused mayhem for a series of batsmen as wickets fell in rapid succession with Cook at the forefront of the batsmen’s demise.

He claimed Zak Crawley for 3, Darren Stevens for 4, Ollie Rayner for 9 and Harry Podmore for a duck who were lbw victims. Two other of his victims relied on the assistance of his colleagues, Heino Kuhn was caught behind for 5 and Ollie Robinson was caught by Tom Westley at third slip for 2.

Meanwhile, Mohammad Amir removed Daniel Bell-Drummond for 4 and Sam Billings for a duck with the aid of catches by Simon Harmer and Adam Wheater respectively.

The first four wickets fell in six overs for just 7 runs and when Robinson was dismissed two overs later, half of the Kent side were back in the Pavilion with only 9 runs on the board.

Their misery continued as Cook captured two more wickets to leave them 19-7 and then 23-8 with Cook enjoying figures of 6 for 12 at that stage.

A ninth-wicket stand of 13, the highest of the innings, briefly held up further Essex progress but Cook put an end to that show of resistance before Jamie Porter castled Matt Milnes to end the Kent misery.

Not a single Kent batsmen was able to reach double figures in an innings that commenced at 1:59 pm and concluded just 1 hour and 26 minutes later.

It was the lowest score Kent had made against Essex in their history, the previous lowest being 43 at Southend in 1925 whilst it was also the home side’s lowest first-class score on the St.Lawrence Ground.

Essex were left with six overs to face before tea during which Browne edged Stevens to third slip but Cook and Westley ensured no further setbacks before the interval on a day when twenty wickets have fallen in two sessions of play.

Day Three Lunch Report:

A disastrous session of play saw Essex bowled out for 114 to trail Kent by 112 runs after the first innings, with the visitors losing nine wickets for 74 runs in 30 overs in the Specsavers County Championship clash at Canterbury.

Essex had resumed on 32 for one but the loss of Alastair Cook for 12 to the sixteenth ball of the day to trigger a rapid decline that saw four wickets, including that of the opener, tumble in 62 balls to leave Essex 49 for five.

The ageless Darren Stevens accounted for Alastair Cook (12) and also Tom Westley, who scored 17, both batsmen succumbing to lbw decisions to leave the evergreen all-rounder with the 495th first-class wicket of his career.

Neither Dan Lawrence nor Ravi Bopara troubled the scorers, both falling to Harry Podmore whilst Ryan ten Doeschate became the third lbw victim of Stevens. The Essex skipper scored 6 and his dismissal left Essex 58 for 6 with a possibility of falling to avoid the follow-on.

Simon Harmer had scored five when he was lbw to Mitch Claydon with Essex still 10 runs short of the 77 runs they needed to avert the possibility of being asked to bat again.

They had Adam Wheater and Mohammad Amir to thank for overcoming that ignominy. The pair put on 43 runs in 11 overs with Amir posting his highest score for Essex in the four first-class matches he has been involved with for the county beating his previous highest of 22 not out.

He was finally dismissed for 28 when caught at short extra cover to end an innings spanning 50 minutes and 39 balls whilst two deliveries later and with the score still on 110, Wheater edged a ball from Podmore to the wicket-keeper to end his resistance lasting 76 minutes for 20 runs.

Shortly afterwards, Sam Cook, who had scored 2, picked out Sam Billings at cover to conclude the Essex innings that lasted 47.3 overs.

Day Two : Match Highlights

Day Two Reaction: Anthony McGrath

Day Two Close of Play Report:

A stop-start day at Canterbury ended with Essex on 32 for 1 in reply to Kent’s first innings total of 226 all out, with Alastair Cook on 8 and Tom Westley 10 not out.

The last of four interruptions for rain proved terminal with play called off at 5:20pm on a day when 58 overs were lost due to the bad weather.

Essex captured two wickets quickly when Kent started the day on 125 for 6, with yesterday’s heroes Mohammad Amir and Sam Cook both adding to their personal hauls of three wickets apiece. Hopes of a rapid conclusion to the innings though were dispelled by a ninth-wicket partnership of 65 by Harry Podmore and Matt Milnes.

They had earned the home side a batting point carrying the total to 203 but Ravi Bopara found the edge to have Milnes caught at slip by Alastair Cook for 31.

Shortly after, rain made its first appearance of the day.

The first hold-up brought an early lunch with the hosts on 211 for 9 and there was another heavy shower 8 minutes after the players had returned to the field.

That proved to be a short interruption with the action re-commencing after 17 minutes allowing Harry Podmore to complete a 65-ball half-century that included 1 six and 8 fours.

It was Sam Cook who brought the innings to a close with the fourth delivery of the second new ball. The 22-year-old right-armer encouraged last man, Mitch Claydon to drive to Westley at short extra-cover to bag his fifth wicket of the innings and leaving Podmore 54 not out.

It was the fourth time in his career Cook, who has been out of first-team action since 17th June because of a side injury, had bagged a 5-for and the first time this season he had accomplished the feat.

Before Essex could start their reply, rain returned causing tea to be taken early. The visitor’s innings finally got underway at 4pm, but Nick Browne was an early casualty having contributed 6 of the 8 runs on the board.

Facing the penultimate ball of the third over, he steered an away swinging delivery from Podmore to Ollie Rayner at second slip.

Cook and Westley though proved adhesive batting vigilantly. Westley took 23 balls to get his score moving but he then produced a splendid cover drive to get off the mark. Cook played with his usual calm authority as the pair, eager to avoid any further incursion by the Kent attack, mustered just 8 scoring shots from the combined 78 balls they faced.

But then another heavy deluge saturated the ground leaving the umpires no alternative but to abandon play for the day.

Day Two Tea Report:

Sam Cook took 5 for 42 as Kent were dismissed for 226 at Canterbury. The bowler, who turned 22 earlier this month, bowled with impressive consistency to return his first 5-fer of the season, and 4th of his career.

It took Essex 31 balls to capture the hosts remaining wicket when they resumed after lunch on 211-9.

Last man Mitch Claydon edged a delivery from Simon Harmer to slip but Alastair Cook was unable to complete the catch. Immediately after, play was suspended for 17 minutes due to a shower.

Upon the resumption, Harry Podmore pulled a ball from Harmer to the boundary to reach a 65 ball half-century with the assistance of 9 boundaries.

It was not until the new ball had been taken that the innings finally closed when Cook struck with the fourth delivery when he encouraged Claydon, on 9, to drive into the hands of Tom Westley at short extra-cover. 

That left Podmore unbeaten on 54 in a meaningful innings of resistance that boasted an array of fluent drives.

However, before the visitors could commence their reply, the weather closed in once more and that put paid to any further play in the afternoon session, the last action having taken place at 2:47pm.

An early tea was taken with the hopes of a prompt resumption shortly after the statutory 20-minutes interval.

Day Two Lunch Report:

Sam Cook and Mohammad Amir both struck early on Day Two, but Essex’s hopes of wrapping up the innings quickly were frustrated by a 65 runs partnership between Harry Podmore and Matt Milnes.

Ravi Bopara finally ended that resistance to leave Kent 203-9 but seven balls later, rain-swept down on the St. Lawrence Ground to suspend play with Kent 211-9 and Podmore 43 not out.

The day had started in bright sunshine and with the penultimate ball of his third over of the day, Amir beat Ollie Rayner (5) for pace uprooting the batsman’s off stump. That left the home side 128-7 and ten runs later Cook trapped Darren Stevens in front of his stumps for 6.

However, Milnes and Podmore set about reviving their side’s fortunes deploying a sensible and pragmatic approach. Amir and Cook gave way to Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer before Cook returned to the attack, but he was quickly replaced after successive boundaries by Milnes.
Podmore then cleared the ropes when facing Harmer and the half-century stand was completed in 12 overs.

Ryan ten Doeschate then turned to Bopara who rewarded the skipper’s decision in only his second over. Having played a key part in carrying the total past 200 to earn Kent a batting point, Milnes on 31, prodded outside off stump to a good-length ball and Alastair Cook took a comfortable catch at slip. 

That gave Essex their third bowling bonus point, but rain was to curtail play shortly after and lunch was taken at 1pm, with six overs lost. Amir currently has figures of 4 for 48, Cook 4 for 42, Bopara 1 for 15 from 2.1 over, Porter 0 for 58 and Harmer 0 for 39.

Day One : Match Highlights

Day One Reaction: Sam Cook

Day One Close of Play Report:

Sam Cook and Mohammad Amir proved the star turns as the Essex pace duo shared six wickets on a truncated opening day’s play at Canterbury against Kent who reached the close on 125-6.

Cook produced a fine spell of bowling to grab three wickets in 27 balls at a personal cost of 4 runs whilst Amir bookended the 22-year-old’s efforts.

He undid Zak Crawley who had scored 5 when he had his off-stump uprooted and then struck later in the day to add Daniel Bell -Drummond and Ollie Robinson who top-scored with 55 and 35 respectively. 

Cook, who was returning to senior team action for the first time since June 17 when he sustained a side injury, showed his well-being with the wickets of Sean Dickson, Sam Billings and Heino Kuhn as the home side were reduced to 49-4 after an uncontested toss.

Cook struck with his second delivery having taken over from Jamie Porter at the Pavilion End when Dickson stepped across the line and was lbw for 8. Then six deliveries later, he undid Billings who played forward and was trapped in the crease for a single before Kuhn was bowled for 6.

Bell-Drummond apart, the Kent top-five all struggled against the pace of Cook, Porter and Amir who had taken the first wicket of the day with his ninth delivery of the morning to add to his list of 254 first-class victims in what is his final red-ball match.

All three bowlers passed the bat on several occasions with only Bell-Drummond showing the resilience and aptitude in the top half of the order half to protect his wicket.

He eventually found an ally in Ollie Robinson as the pair improved Kent’s fortunes with a partnership of 68 against a ball that had lost its shine and hardness.

Bell-Drummond deployed a sensible approach whilst quick to punish the looser delivery to reach his half-century from 99 balls that embraced seven boundaries. 
 
Play began on time, but the morning session was destined to last just 9.1 overs before heavy rain curtailed the action in what is Kent’s 168th Canterbury Festival with the hosts 11 -1.

Eventually, the action resumed at 3.30 p.m. after umpires Ian Blackwell and Paul Baldwin had made two inspections. Seven overs into the post-lunch session, Cook made his mark and his telling spell saw him reach tea with the admirable analysis of 7-4-7-3.

The total had been carried to 117 when Amir ended the resistance of Bell-Drummond and Robinson shortly before the close. He produced a fast in-swinging delivery to end Bell-Drummond’s innings spanning almost three hours and then one run later, repeated the delivery when bowling Robinson in his next over as Kent succumbed to 118 for 6. 

Amir ended the day with figures of 17-4-30-3 whilst Cook returned 13-4-25-3. 

Day One Tea Report:

Sam Cook announced his return to First Team action with a superb spell of bowling that earned him three wickets in 27 balls at a personal cost of just 4 runs as Kent reached tea on 61-4.

The 22-year-old paceman had been absent with a side injury since 17 June but bounced back in style to remove Sean Dickson, Sam Billings and Heino Kuhn.

Cook claimed the scalp of opener Dickson with his second delivery of the match when the batsman, who had scored 8 in 67 minutes at the crease, stepped across the line and was leg before wicket.

The right-arm bowler then struck six deliveries later to have Billings lbw as the batsman reached forward before Cook bowled Kuhn for 6 with a ball that found extra lift as the home side slumped to 49-4.

Cook had been introduced into the attack taking over from Jamie Porter at the Pavilion End, who together with Mohammad Amir, had passed the bat on a number of occasions without reward when play resumed belatedly in the afternoon session.

Daniel Bell-Drummond did manage to frustrate the Essex attack as he arrived at the interval 33 not out having faced 68 balls accompanied by Ollie Robinson who was 3 not out.

Cook meanwhile reached the break with figures of 7-4-7-3.

Day One Lunch Report:

Mohammad Amir took only nine deliveries before striking with the ball in the final red-ball match of his career as Essex resumed their County Championship campaign with Kent at Canterbury. 

The left-armer had sent down a maiden and then sent back Zak Crawley who played down the wrong line and lost his off stump that was sent cartwheeling out of the ground.

The opener had scored 5 out of the 7 runs on the board but five overs later, heavy rain swept across the St. Lawrence Ground with the home side 11-1 after an uncontested toss. 

Sean Dickson was 3 and Daniel Bell Drummond was 2 not out when the heavens opened to bring a halt to proceedings after just 55 balls.

Under heavy cloud cover and with the floodlights on after three overs, Amir and new ball partner Jamie Porter had caused a number of concerns for the Kent batsmen until the action was halted at 11:38am.

Lunch was taken at the scheduled time of 1:00pm.

Essex included four players in their starting eleven who have not played a senior match for four weeks due to the Vitality Blast campaign with Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Jamie Porter and Sam Cook all returning to action.

At least the truncated morning session allowed Amir, who confirmed that he will also be available for the county’s final four T20 matches, to add to his impressive statistics in the longer form of the game. 

The 27-year-old has now taken 255 wickets in 67 first-class matches and 119 wickets in 36 Test matches.

Amir featured three times for Essex in their title-winning 2017 County Championship Division One campaign, as Ryan ten Doeschate’s side went on to claim the title for the first time in 25 years.

The left-armer took 14 wickets at an average of 13.50, including best figures of 5-18 against Yorkshire at Scarborough.

Essex Eagles v Glamorgan
Vitality Blast
Friday 16 August
The Cloudfm County Ground, Chelmsford

Essex Eagles Team: Not named

Glamorgan Team: Not named

Umpires: Rob Bailey & Ian Blackwell

Toss: No toss

Result: Match Abandoned – Rain

Persistent rain throughout the afternoon and into the evening made it a formality that the game would be abandoned without a ball bowled. Both teams take 1 point from the game.

Proceedings were called off by umpires Rob Bailey and Ian Blackwell five minutes after the scheduled start with the outfield sodden and no prospects of an improvement in the weather.

It was the third time that Essex had suffered a complete rain-off at Chelmsford this season and the second home match in succession that the only winner was the weather.

They were also involved in a no-result with Glamorgan at Cardiff last Friday when that game lasted just 4 overs.

Bottom of the South Group Glamorgan have also suffered at the hands of the elements. They also have endured two abandoned games and two no-result matches.

Essex Chairman John Faragher outlined his frustration with the weather. “This is our third rain-off at Chelmsford this season and we also had a game abandoned down at Cardiff, and so all that obviously impacts our chances of making through to the next stage,” he said.

“Also, it has a big impact on us financially,” he admitted. “But you also have to look at the damaging side, you have all the outside caterers for example who suffer big time and that’s a worry to us because they rely on us for a good evening.

“It’s also the impact around everybody, the members and supporters who have come along wanting to see some cricket, so they are fed up. It does have a knock-on effect.

“Yes, it does have a hit on us financially and it is difficult. To have what should be a big night of cricket in Chelmsford just fizzling out like a damp firework is so frustrating.

“Also, our audience for T20 cricket is different to that of red-ball cricket, and T20 gives us an opportunity to embrace that different fan base. We have shown over the last three years that our membership has grown and some of that is down to T20 cricket where people have come along – they do like coming to Chelmsford – they have a good night and so they decide to experience the other forms of the game.

“So that has helped our membership grown, yes I know that we have been successful in the Championship but Chelmsford is a good place to watch county cricket and we do believe that T20 has helped grow our membership.

“So, any rain-off is a setback and to have three this season is very disappointing, to say the least.”

Essex County Cricket Club can today confirm that Matt Coles’ loan deal at Northamptonshire has been extended until the end of the Vitality Blast group stages.

The 29-year-old will be available to play in today’s Vitality Blast fixture against Worcestershire Rapids at Blackfinch New Road and will be with the Steelbacks until their final group game, also against Worcestershire Rapids, on 30 August.

Coles has featured in six T20 matches for Northamptonshire Steelbacks during his loan stint with the side sitting in seventh place in the Vitality Blast North Group table.

Essex Eagles v Somerset
Vitality Blast
Friday 09 August
Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Essex Eagles Team: Tom Westley, Cameron Delport, Adam Wheater (wk), Dan Lawrence, Ryan ten Doeschate, Ravi Bopara, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer (c), Mohammed Amir, Aaron Beard, Adam Zampa

Glamorgan: David Lloyd, Fakhar Zaman, Jeremy Lawlor, Colin Ingram (c), Chris Cooke (wk), Callum Taylor, Owen Morgan, Graham Wagg, Andrew Salter, Michael Hogan, Marchant de Lange

Umpires: Alex Wharf & James Middlebrook

Toss: Glamorgan, who elected to bowl

Result: Match Abandoned

Match Reaction: Dan Lawrence

Match Report:

A ‘no result’ was the outcome of the Eagles match with Glamorgan at Sophia Gardens after heavy rain brought a premature close to the brief proceedings that had taken place, and both teams taking a point.

At that point, the visitors had faced just 4 overs in reaching 30 for 1 with Cameron Delport the man out for 20 when he was adjudged caught behind off Graham Wagg to what was to prove the last ball of the match. The opener had managed three boundaries from the 19 balls faced.

Adam Wheater had just arrived at the crease to join Tom Westley who was 7 not out but then rain swept across the ground sending the players scurrying to the Pavilion.

When the rain abated, umpires James Middlebrook and Alex Wharf decided that a resumption could be made at 8:25pm with the match reduced from 20 overs to 11 overs a-side. However, that all became academic when as the covers were being removed, the rain returned with a vengeance and the game was called off.

Next up is the visit of Middlesex on Wednesday, with the return fixture against Glamorgan taking place two days later against at Chelmsford on Friday 16 August.