Some spin magic from Simon Harmer helped Essex back in the match at Trent Bridge and set up and enthralling finish to proceedings in the Championship clash against Nottinghamshire.
Six wickets from the South African tore through the hosts batting line-up, which included breaking up growing partnership of Steven Mullaney and Tom Moores; both of whom were his victims.
It was the wicket of Mullaney which also brought up his 50th Championship wicket this season, now sitting behind Lancashire’s Graham Onions and Tom Bailey in the wicket taking ranks with 51 so far.
Harmy spoke after play to reflect on his milestones as the team look to bring an important win back to Chelmsford on the final day.
Essex County Cricket Club can confirm that Callum Taylor is to leave the club following the end of his contract.
The 21-year-old came through the Essex Academy and made his debut in a NatWest T20 Blast match against Hampshire in May 2015, before making his first-class debut three days later against Glamorgan.
Callum featured for Essex in this year’s Champion County match against MCC in March and has been a prominent player in the Second XI this season.
Anthony McGrath said: “Callum has been a pleasure to coach and has been an important squad player for Essex over the past few years. We’d like to thank him for hard work and attitude and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.”
Essex County Cricket Club are pleased to announce that former England captain, Alastair Cook, has committed his future to the Club and signed a contract extension that will see him remain with Essex for the next three years.
Having come through the Essex Academy, Cook made his first-class debut against Nottinghamshire in 2003, scoring 69 not out in his second innings and helping Essex to a 9-wicket victory.
It wasn’t long before England came calling and the 33-year-old has gone on to have hugely successful international career and holds numerous England Test cricket records, such as England’s most capped player in Tests (160), England’s most capped Test captain (59), the most Test centuries for England (32) and the most Test runs for England (12,254).
Cook’s international career has been celebrated after he announced he will make his final appearance for England at the Kia Oval this week against India.
Alongside his successful international career, Cook was also a vital part of the Essex side which won the County Championship in 2017, the county’s first Championship title in a quarter of a century.
Essex Head Coach Anthony McGrath is delighted that Cook will be staying and commented: “It’s great news that Cooky has committed his future to the Club.
“He’s one of the best batsmen in the world and he’s so important for us both on and off the pitch. He’s a great person to have around the Club and is a great role model for the young players coming through.
“He also has the ability to change a game with his batting and that’s something everyone wants in their team.”
Jack Leach bowled Somerset to victory over Essex by 45 runs after an absorbing day’s play at Taunton.
The off-spinner returned 8 for 85 as the visitors were bowled out for 290, despite half-centuries from Nick Browne, Tom Westley and Ryan ten Doeschate.
Requiring 336 to win at the start of their second innings and 189 at the start of the day with 9 wickets intact, Essex were in control with Browne and Westley playing with restraint but confidently.
Westley turned Leach down to fine leg to bring up his 50 having faced 117 balls but soon after, the Somerset fielders asked for the ball to be changed and their plea was upheld by the umpires.
Westley hit the replacement ball to the square leg boundary but then the game changed with the dismissal of he and Browne within the space of 4 deliveries with the score on 171.
Browne, on 86, was caught at leg slip when top-edging an intended sweep before Jamie Overton pinned Westley in front of his stumps for 56.
Dan Lawrence and ten Doeschate appeared to have restored the initiative back to Essex with a 54 runs partnership but Leach breached Lawrence’s defence with the final ball before lunch to leave the visitors 225 for 4.
Ravi Bopara joined ten Doeschate when play resumed after the interval and the duo set about stabilising matters but Leach, who had taken 3 for 64 by lunch, was to prove the downfall of both batsmen and the Essex victory hunt.
Bopara took 17 deliveries to get off the mark whilst ten Doeschate brought up his 50 having faced 72 balls, 8 of which he steered to the ropes.
But without adding a further run, Leach bowled him with a beauty to leave the visitors 256 for 5 and 2 runs later, Adam Wheater departed for a single when giving a return catch to the impressive Leach to leave Essex still requiring 78 to win with 4 wickets remaining.
Bopara batted for an hour and three-quarters to reach 27 but then stepped back to cut Leach only to play the ball onto his stumps.
10 overs and 9 runs later, the game was over. Bess had Simon Harmer caught at bat/pad by Marcus Trescothick leaving Leach to end his virtuoso performance with the wickets of Peter Siddle and Jamie Porter.
Essex returned home with 3 points whilst Somerset claimed 22 points to consolidate their runners-up position behind leaders Surrey.
Hampshire are the next opponents for Essex in the County Championship when they visit The Cloudfm County Ground starting on 29 August.
Somerset v Essex Specsavers County Championship Sunday 19 August – Wednesday 22 August The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton
Somerset Team: Marcus Trescothick, Eddie Byrom, Azhar Ali, James Hildreth, Tom Abell (c), Steve Davies (wk), Lewis Gregory, Dom Bess, Josh Davey, Jamie Overton, Jack Leach.
Essex Team: Varun Chopra, Nick Browne, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Jamie Porter, Sam Cook.
Toss: Somerset, who elected to bat
Umpires: Ben Debenham & David Millns, James Middlebrook (replacement Umpire for David Millns due to illness on Day Two)
Day Three Reaction: Anthony McGrath
Day Three: Close of Play Report
Faced with what appeared to be a challenging quest of 336 for victory, Essex made an excellent start reaching the end of the Day Three on 147 for 1, with Nick Browne unbeaten on 75 and Tom Westley 43*.
Openers Browne and Varun Chopra had posted 58 before the latter was pinned in front of his stumps by Jack Leach for 24 but that was to be the last of the home side’s successes as bat commanded ball.
Browne and Westley both showed immaculate timing, driving on both sides of the crease with full authority and in uncomplicated fashion. Browne was fluent from the start and faced 93 balls, finding the ropes on 9 occasions on his way to a half-century.
It was the third time in successive innings that the left-hander had posted a score of 50 or more in the Championship this season and all three have come off the Somerset attack, having scored 66 and 75 in the fixture at Chelmsford at the end of June.
By the close, he had added another 4 boundaries to his tally having faced a total of 134 balls and having batted for 2 hours and 40 minutes.
Westley, who launched his innings with a confidence boosting boundary after his first innings duck, was commendably selective in his shot selection picking his way to seven fours in his 83 ball innings thus far.
Essex had been left a little over 4 sessions to achieve their target but the spin threat of left-arm Jack Leach and right-armer Dom Bess loomed large on a dry pitch.
But the Essex top-order overcame that potential menacing situation on the day.
Although the home side had enjoyed the better of the opening two days play, their opponents dug deep to show determination and character on the third day to bring themselves right back into a match that had looked to be drifting away from them.
It was the bowling of Simon Harmer, with chief assistance from Sam Cook and Peter Siddle that began the visitors resurgence. Off-spinner Harmer, bowling beautifully, drew assistance from the dry pitch as the West Country side were dismissed for 202 having started the day on 32 for 1.
Harmer teased out Ed Byrom for 42 with an lbw decision when the opener pushed forward and had Azhar Ali picked up by Ravi Bopara at leg slip for 23. The same combination claimed the dismissal of Somerset skipper Tom Abell for 27 before Harmer had Lewis Gregory well caught low down at first slip by Chopra for 11 in his next over on his way to figures of 4 for 69.
Byrom and Ali had posted a 52 runs stand for the third wicket but after they were parted, the remaining seven wickets realised just 117 runs. Siddle, a model of accuracy throughout, illustrated his incisive qualities when flattening the leg and middle stumps of James Hildreth before uprooting Jamie Overton’s middle stump to return figures of 2 for 49 although he deserved better having passed the bat on a number of occasions.
Cook (2 for 8 from 9 overs), having claimed the wicket of Marcus Trescothick the previous evening, found the breakthrough in the fourth over of the day when having Bess caught by the redoubtable Harmer.
Day Three: Tea Report
Chasing 336 for victory, Essex had reached 52 without loss at the interval after Somerset had been dismissed for 202 in their second innings. Nick Browne is unbeaten on 26 and Varun Chopra is 22 not out.
The home side lost their five remaining wickets after lunch for the addition of 75 runs with Simon Harmer picking up two more victims to finish with 4 for 69 whilst the other three wickets went to Jamie Porter, Peter Siddle and Tom Westley who struck with the second ball of his first over.
Resuming on 127 for 5, Tom Abell was caught in the leg-gulley trap by Ravi Bopara for 27 when facing Harmer’s off-spin, and although Lewis Gregory opted for the aggressive approach against Siddle, hitting a 6 and a 4 in one over, he was back in the pavilion soon after when Harmer ended his exuberance by having him superbly caught low down at slip by Chopra.
That left Somerset 154 for 7 and 15 runs later, they lost another wicket.
When the Australian was given a rest, Westley was brought into the attack and his off spin trapped Jack Leach who prodded forward in-determinedly and was struck on the front pad to leave the home side 183 for 9.
Porter then returned and encouraged Steve Davies (29) to hook a ball into the waiting hands of Matt Quinn stationed at deep fine-leg and on the field for the unwell Bopara.
Siddle finished with 2 for 49, Sam Cook 2 for 23, Westley 1 for 8 and Porter 1 for 44.
The Essex quest to record their fourth win of the Championship season began at 3.14 p.m. leaving them with a little more than four sessions to reach a demanding total on a dry pitch.
Day Three: Lunch Report
Somerset extended their overall lead to 260 runs on the third morning of the County Championship clash with Essex at Taunton having reached the interval on 127 for 5 with Tom Abell unbeaten on 16 and Steve Davies 5 not out.
However, the honours in the morning session went to the visitors who captured four wickets whilst restricting their opponents to 94 runs to add to their overnight 32 for 1.
There were two wickets for the off-spin of Simon Harmer and one apiece for pacemen Peter Siddle and Sam Cook.
It was the latter who struck the first blow having night watchman Dom Bess caught by Harmer at second slip for 12 without addition to the score. Cook proved very economical and was he was replaced by Harmer in the attack, Cook had enjoyed figures of 9-5-8-2.
However, Azhar Ali took a shine to the bowling of Jamie Porter, collecting three boundaries in one over, an act that brought Siddle into action.
Harmer ended Ali’s fun when the batsman, still on 12, turned a delivery into the hands of Ravi Bopara in the leg gulley trap to leave the home side 85 for 3.
Eleven runs and four overs later, Harmer removed opener Ed Byrom (42) when he brought the batsman forward to gain the lbw verdict.
A straight drive by James Hildreth brought the total into three figures and then Abell twice found the ropes in an over against Harmer.
Then, with the total on 118, Siddle produced the delivery of the morning when Hildreth on 15, had his leg and middle stumps flattened.
The bowler was unfortunate not to have a further wicket when, with his next delivery, Adam Wheater was unable to hold onto a chance offered by Steve Davies.
At the interval, Siddle had taken 2 for 38, his 32nd wicket for the county across all formats this summer, whilst Harmer had 2 for 38 and Cook 2 for 8.
Day Two Reaction: Ryan ten Doeschate
Day Two: Close of Play Report
Essex face an uphill task if they are to emerge with anything other than three points from the match with Somerset at Taunton. This is after the home side ended the second day with an overall lead of 165 runs with nine second innings wickets intact.
The last three first innings wickets were lost for the addition of 16 runs at the start of the day and then dismissed their opponents for 191 before reaching the close on 32 for 1.
Ryan ten Doeschate was left to hold the visitors innings together after the top-five in the order managed only 72 runs between them and that included 28 for Dan Lawrence who provided the second highest score in a disappointing overall display by the current County Champions.
Lawrence and his skipper added 52 for the fifth wicket after Somerset had reduced Essex to 54 for 4 with Josh Davey claiming the scalps of Nick Browne and Tom Westley for 13 and 0, respectively.
Lewis Gregory pinned Varun Chopra in the crease for 16 before Jamie Overton found the edge to have Ravi Bopara well caught by wicket-keeper Steve Davies with the fourth delivery after lunch.
Bopara had looked in good nick before he departed for 15 to leave his side in serious trouble and still requiring a further 121 to avert the possibility of the follow-on.
On a pitch that had threatened from the start to offer spin assistance, the Somerset spin twins of Leach and Bess removed Adam Wheater for 10 and Simon Harmer for 4.
Peter Siddle was dropped at square leg off Bess with the score on 137 for 7 but accompanied ten Doeschate in a stand worth 37 during which time the latter brought up his second d Championship half-century of the summer.
The previous occasion was also against the West Country county when he went on to record an unbeaten 173 when the teams met at Chelmsford at the end of June before the Vitality Blast competition commenced.
Siddle eventually went for 12 to a slip catch when facing the spin of Azhar Ali with Essex still requiring one run to avert the follow-on but a single by ten Doeschate completed that task.
He was finally the ninth man out having posted 73 when trapped leg before by Overton to end his innings lasting just short of three hours and spanning 137 balls with 1 six and 7 fours.
Shortly after, Overton claimed Jamie Porter to leave the visitors 191 all out.
Left with 16 overs to face, the home side lost Marcus Trescothick to Sam Cook for 7 leaving Ed Byrom and nightwatchman Bess to play out time. They will resume on 10 and 11 respectively in the morning.
Earlier, Siddle grabbed two of the remaining three Somerset first innings wickets to end with figures of 5 for 80 and record his second 5-for of the season for the county.
In the afternoon session, former Yorkshire and Essex bowler James Middlebrook arrived to take over umpiring duties from local man John Wheeler who had been standing in for the indisposed David Millns.
Day One: Match Highlights
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Day One Reaction: Peter Siddle
Day One: Close of Play Report
Somerset had reached 308 for 7 when bad light curtailed play on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match with Essex at Taunton.
Veteran opener Marcus Trescothick scored 95 before he became one of three victims for paceman Peter Siddle who ended the day with figures of 3 for 71 whilst there were two wickets for Jamie Porter that came at a cost of 75 runs.
Siddle bowled with typical energy throughout his 22 overs and was also deservedly rewarded with the wickets of Ed Byrom and Dom Bess.
Trescothick and Byrom opened the Somerset first innings with a partnership of 38 in 11 overs as the pair dealt mainly in boundaries before Byrom, on 16, flirted with a delivery and edged to Adam Wheater behind the stumps tlo give Siddle a wicket with his ninth delivery of the day.
Nest to go was Pakistan Test batsman Azhar Ali who made 17 before he fell victim to Simon Harmer when caught at short mid-wicket by Dan Lawrence to leave Somerset, who had won the toss, 63 for 2.
Trescothick though moved serenely on to his half-century having faced 83 balls of which he steered 10 to the boundary.
Then on the stroke of lunch, Jamie Porter left the morning’s honours even when he trapped James Hildreth for 9 with a delivery that was angled back into the right-hander.
Resuming the afternoon session on 104 for 3, the hosts and closest pursuers of leaders Surrey in the Division One table, added another 103 runs for the loss of just one wicket to take the initiative.
It was Trescothick that was to perish just 5 runs short of what would have been his 67th first-class century, when his old nemesis Siddle returned to the Essex attack and with his first delivery of a new spell, persuaded the former England opener to pull the ball to deep square leg where Nick Browne took the catch.
By the tea interval, Somerset skipper Tom Abell had also passed his half-century having faced 89 balls and arrived at the milestone with the eighth boundary of his innings.
It was Ravi Bopara, in his second over, who finally accounted for Abell (70) when the batsman pushed forward and edged behind. Meanwhile Harmer had bowled 19 overs unchanged at a cost of 50 runs before the new ball was taken immediately due and with the hosts 261 for 5.
It was just 5 overs old when Porter uprooted the middle stump of Steve Davies who had made 45 when he played down the wrong line and five overs later, Siddle struck for the third time in the day having Dom Bess picked up in the gully by Dan Lawrence for 8.
Two overs later, umpires David Millns and Ben Debenham conferred about the light and decided that play could not continue cutting four overs from the day’s play which will be added onto the day’s allocation on Day Two.
Day One: Tea Report
Marcus Trescothick fell just 5 runs short of what would have been his 67th first-class century as Somerset reached 207 for 4 at tea.
The home side lost just the one wicket in the afternoon’s play whilst adding 104 runs to their lunch score but the Essex attack would consider themselves unlucky not to have earned greater rewards,
Pacemen, Siddle and Sam Cook passed the bat on a number of occasions whilst off-spinner Simon Harmer also posed a number of questions for Trescothick and Tom Abell.
However, the pair proved resolute carrying their fourth wicket partnership onto 180 with a 76 runs stand until the fall of opener Trescothick.
The 42 year-old had reached 95 when the re-introduction of Siddle brought about his downfall when he pulled the first ball of a new spell to deep backward square leg where Nick Browne took the catch.
Trescothick had faced 158 balls of which 16 found the boundary having spent three and a half hours in the middle.
Skipper Tom Abell continued to play impressively timing the ball brought up his half-century having received 89 balls with his tenth four.
At tea, he was unbeaten on 59 with Steve Davies 5 not out.
Day One: Lunch Report
Veteran opener Marcus Trescothick posted an unbeaten half-century as Somerset reached 104 for 3 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Essex at Taunton.
Peter Siddle, Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter each collected a wicket for the visitors after the home side had won the toss and elected to bat on a firm and dry pitch.
Somerset, who started the match in second position in the Championship table 27 points ahead of fourth placed Essex, were given a good start by their openers who initially almost exclusively in boundaries. The first 24 runs of the morning all arrived from fours but having helped Trescothick carry their first wicket partnership to 38, Ed Byrom became the first casualty of the innings.
He had scored 16 when Siddle, with his ninth ball of the day, found the edge and Adam Wheater took completed a comfortable catch.
Off-spinner Harmer was introduced after an hour’s play and might have had an early wicket but varun Chopra at slip failed to hold the catch offered by tresothick who was on 23 at the time.
However the South African bowler took his 33rd wicket of the Championship season when he removed Azhar Ali for 17 with the score on 63.
The Pakistan Test batsman Lawrence drove a ball to short mid-wicket where Dan Lawrence took the catch.
Meanwhile Trescothick continued to play sensibly driving beautifully on both sides of the wicket and brought up his half-century when he drove Porter to the ropes to collect his tenth four having faced 83 balls at that point.
But Porter was to strike with the final ball before lunch when he angled a ball back into James Hildreth (9) to gain the leg before decision.
At the break, Trescothick had reached 56 with 11 boundaries. Porter so far has taken 1 for 36, Harmer 1 for 23 and Siddle 1 for 15.
Essex Cricket have agreed to let Adam Zampa end his spell with the Club early to play in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Zampa will now link up with the Jamaica Tallawahs for the T20 competition, which started on Wednesday.
The 26 year-old leg-spinner took 12 wickets in 10 matches during his time with the Eagles, with an economy rate of 7.90.
Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, said: “Adam has been one of the shining lights for us during this year’s Vitality Blast campaign, but we have honoured his desire to go and play in the Caribbean.
“Adam has been brilliant for the group and has really enjoyed his time with the Club, but after not making the Quarter-Final stages we granted his request to move onto the CPL.
“Having players who fit in well to the group is a key quality we look for when recruiting new faces, so it would be great to have Adam back with us in the future.
“We all know that this year’s competition hasn’t gone to plan but the spirit in the dressing room is still high and we are focused on finishing the campaign on a positive note.”
Adam Zampa said: “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my spell at Essex, and although we haven’t managed to get the results on the pitch, playing in front of the Chelmsford crowd was very special.
“I’m grateful to the Club for allowing me to play in the Caribbean Premier League when the opportunity came along and I would love to pull on an Essex shirt again.”
The Club would like to thank Adam for his contribution during his time at the Club and wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours.
Glamorgan v Essex Eagles Vitality Blast Tuesday 07 August Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Glamorgan Team | Aneurin Donald, Craig Meschede, Colin Ingram (c), Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke (wk), Nick Selman, Graham Wagg, Andrew Salter, Ruaidhri Smith, Timm van der Gugten, Michael Hogan.
Essex Eagles Team | Adam Wheater (wk), Varun Chopra, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate, Michael Pepper Ravi Bopara, Ashar Zaidi, Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa, Matt Quinn.
Toss | Essex Eagles won the toss and elected to bowl
Umpires | Ian Blackwell & Michael Gough
Match Report:
In an exciting finish at Sophia Gardens, Glamorgan won their fourth successive game, and sixth in all, to advance to third place in the Southern Group with four games remaining. With 23 needed from the final over, Ravi Bopara did his best by striking ten from the first two balls, but Michael Hogan held his nerve for the next four deliveries.
Essex, needing to score at 10 runs an over, after Glamorgan had scored a creditable 198 for 7, lost Adam Wheater in Rory Smith’s second over, and he was followed Paul Walter who was well caught by Donald from Meschede’s first ball after the power play.
The visitors were 89 for 2 at the halfway stage,with Chopra and Ten Doeschate settling into an useful partnership, with Chopra reaching his half century from 55 balls. They added 62 for the third wicket before Ten Doeschate was bowled, taking a wild swing at one of Ingram’s leg breaks.
Essex lost their fourth wicket in the next over, when Chopra, who made 54, top edged an intended pull from Van Der Gugten to wicketkeeper Cooke, and with five overs remaining, the visitors required a further 70 runs.
But they lost another wicket when Zaidi holed out at long on, but Bopara and Harmer kept on attacking and 32 were needed from the final two overs. After Wagg dismissed Harmer, it was up to Bopara, with 24 runs needed from the final six balls. After they were asked to bat, Glamorgan soon lost their openers in Matt Quin’s opening over.
Craig Meschede was deceived by a slower ball, then Aneurin Donald, driving too early, was well caught low down by Simon Harmer.
Ingram however was soon into his stride, striking a flurry of boundaries, racing to 54 from just 21 balls as Glamorgan reached 71 for 2 at the end of the power play. The unfortunate Quinn, after taking the early wickets was smashed for 30 in his second over, all struck by Ingram.
Kiran Carlson helped Ingram add 85 in seven overs for the third wicket, before Carlson, had contributed only 11, was caught on the mid- wicket boundary. Ravi Bopara then struck twice for Essex as he had Chris Cook caught at fine leg and with his next ball trapped Nick Selman leg before.
Peter Siddle then ended Ingram’s excellent innings when the Glamorgan captain pulled a short deliver to fine leg- a knock that included nine fours and five sixes from 47 balls. When he departed no other batsman had struck a boundary, a statistic that illustrated how much Ingram had dominated the innings.
At 136 for 7, Essex were back in contention, but Graham Wagg and Rory Smith the accelerated by adding 62 for the eighth wicket, with 60 coming in the final three overs, and Wagg reaching his fifty from 28 balls.
Glamorgan v Essex Eagles Vitality Blast Tuesday 07 August Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Glamorgan Team | Craig Meschede, Aneurin Donald, Colin Ingram (c), Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke (wk), Nick Selman, Graham Wagg, Andrew Salter, Ruaidhri Smith, Timm van der Gugten, Michael Hogan.
Essex Eagles Team | Adam Wheater (wk), Varun Chopra, Paul Walter, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Michael Pepper, Ravi Bopara, Simon Harmer, Peter Siddle, Adam Zampa, Matt Quinn.
Toss | Essex won the toss and elected to bowl first
Umpires | Ian Blackwell & Michael Gough
Match Report:
Despite a valiant effort from Ravi Bopara, who struck an unbeaten 45 from 20 balls, Essex Eagles suffered another defeat in the Vitality Blast competition when Glamorgan won by 6 runs in the match at Cardiff.
Colin Ingram, not for the first time, put Essex to the sword when he took 89 off the bowling attack having faced just 47 balls as the home side reached 198 for 7 from their 20 overs.
The South African clubbed 5 sixes and 9 fours in a as fine an innings that one could wish to see in this form of cricket.
The home side had been put into bat and lost their first two wickets to Matt Quinn with only 8 runs on the board in the first two overs but Ingram made light of Glamorgan’s perceived problems.
In successive overs from Adam Zampa and Peter Siddle, he collected a six and a four in consecutive deliveries but it was Quinn’s second over the of the innings that set the crowd and the innings alight.
The South African blasted three successive fours to bring the total past 50 then struck a six over fine leg which sailed out of the ground before adding another four and then a six with a straight drive that took him to his half century from 21 balls that included 48 in boundaries, four of them sixes.
At one stage he had blasted 32 from just 8 balls.
He continued his onslaught until the return of Peter Siddle brought his innings to an abrupt end when he picked out Bopara on the deep mid-wicket boundary.
That left Glamorgan 125-6 and five of the batsmen that had visited the crease had only managed 21 between them.
That included two wickets for Bopara from successive deliveries.
If the Eagles thought that the departure of Ingram would bring relief they were mistaken as Graham Wagg stepped into his colleagues shoes.
Up until the 18th over, only Ingram had found the boundary but Wagg and Ruaidhri Smith plundered runs seemingly at will from thereon.
Sixty defining runs were accrued from the last three overs including 26 from the 19th over.
Wagg reached 50 from just 28 balls ending 53 not out with two sixes and five fours whilst Smith was unbeaten on 22 from just nine deliveries. The pair had added 63 in three overs.
In reply, the Eagles progressed to a required 32 from the last two overs with five intact but only eight were collected from the penultimate over sent down by Wagg.
However, Bopara raised hopes for the visitors collecting two fours from the first two balls of the 20th over bowled by Michael Hogan and then two runs before sending the next delivery high over the ropes.
However, the bowler kept his cool sending down a ‘dot’ ball before Bopara gathered a single from the final delivery.
Earlier, Varun Chopra and Ryan ten Doeschate put on 62 in eight overs carrying the score to 123 in the 14th over but the loss of both batsmen in successive overs halted the victory quest.
Chopra hit 54, his fifth T20 half-century of the season whilst ten Doeschate hit 28. That left Bopara holding the responsibility of attempting to see the Eagles over the line. Simon Harmer struck 2 sixes as he contributed 15 of a 24 run stand for the sixth wicket but his departure left Bopara in sole charge.
It was a case of so near yet so far for the all-rounder who smote three sixes and four other boundaries in his vain attempt to end the Eagles poor run of form as the visitors ended on 192 for 6 wickets.
Alastair Cook and Jamie Porter have been selected again for England’s upcoming Test against India at Lord’s
England National Cricket Selectors have made two changes to the squad for the second Specsavers Test match starting on Thursday August 9. Surrey middle-order batsman Ollie Pope replaces Middlesex’s Dawid Malan and Warwickshire seamer Chris Woakes returns to the squad in place of Durham’s Ben Stokes, who faces a court hearing this coming week in Bristol.
England Test squad:
Joe Root (Yorkshire) Captain
Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)
Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)
Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) Wicket-keeper
Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)
Jos Buttler (Lancashire) Alastair Cook (Essex)
Sam Curran (Surrey)
Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)
Ollie Pope (Surrey) Jamie Porter (Essex)
Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
Match Report | Essex Eagles were left rooted to the bottom of the table as they were beaten by six wickets when they met Surrey in their Vitality Blast battle at The Clooudfm County Ground.
Once again the Eagles failed to make a telling impact with the bat as they were restricted to 157 for five, a total the visitors passed with 21 balls to spare.
Having been put into bat, only Varun Chopra with 52 from 39 balls played with any authority in the top order. His innings contained five 4’s and one 6 before he put up a simple catch to Jonathan Batty off Rikki Clarke.
Michael Pepper made 26 not out from 22 deliveries but there was little substance until a swashbuckling contribution from Ashar Zaidi raised the tempo and the total.
The Eagles were on a sorry looking 124 for 5 with two overs to face but Pepper and Zaidi collected ten off the penultimate over before Zaidi went into overdrive as 23 runs were taken from the final over sent down by Tom Curran.
That effort carried Essex beyond 150. Zaidi’s all too brief visit to the middle brought the all-rounder an unbeaten 24 arrived from only eight deliveries with the help of two 4’s and two 6’s.
Essex got off to an encouraging start in defence of their modest total as Zaidi and Peter Siddle got rid of powerhouse openers Jason Roy and Aaron Finch with only 26 on the board.
Without facing a legitimate delivery, Roy was stumped by Adam Wheater off a wide sent down by Zaidi in the first over whilst Finch departed for 16, the victim of a brilliant diving catch by Pepper at deep mid-wicket.
That left Nic Maddinson to act as the backbone for the successful victory quest. The Australian and former Essex Eagles player Ben Foakes added 35 in three overs for the third wicket before Foakes (26) was another victim of a stumping off a wide, this time facing Adam Zampa.
Ollie Pope, having been selected earlier in the day for the England Second Test squad at Lord’s this week contributed 24 from 13 balls before he fell to Zaidi to leave the visitors 95 for 4 in the 11th over.
However, that was to be the last success for the Eagles attack as Rikki Clarke joined Maddinson to plunder 64 from 6.1 overs to see Surrey to victory. Their last 33 runs came from just nine balls.
Maddison ended unbeaten on 49 from 41 deliveries while Clarke saw his side past the winning post with two successive sixes of Zampa on his way to 37 from 19 deliveries. In all he struck 4 sixes and one four. Zaidi ended with 2 for 27 from his 4 overs including 11 dot balls.
This was the Eagles third successive defeat in the competition and they have failed to record a victory in their last seven matches. Their only success this season was against Middlesex and this latest setback ended any lingering hopes they may have entertained of making progress in the competition.
They will be hoping to at least end their barren run when they travel to Cardiff to face Glamorgan on Tuesday. Meanwhile Surrey’s success leaves them very much on course for a place in the knock-out stages.
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