Essex v Somerset | Specsavers County Championship | The Cloudfm County Ground
Essex Team | Nick Browne (10), Varun Chopra (6), Dan Lawrence (28), Ravi Bopara (25), Adam Wheater (31), Ryan ten Doeschate (27) (C), James Foster (7), Paul Walter (22), Simon Harmer (11), Mohammad Amir (5), Jamie Porter (44).
Somerset Team | Marcus Trescothick (2), Ed Byrom (97), Tim Rouse (44), James Hildreth (25), Tom Abell (28) (C), Steven Davies (11) (WK), Craig Overton (12), Dom Bess (22), Jack Leach (17), Tim Groenewald (5), Paul van Meerkeren (47).
Umpires | Mike Burns & Neil Mallendar
Toss | Essex won the toss and elected to bat first
Day Four’s Play:
Day Four Reaction |Porter tears through the Somerset batsmen to clinch victory
Day Four | Close of Play Report
Jamie Porter was the Essex hero as he spearheaded them to a 179 run victory over Somerset at The Cloudfm County Ground and a step nearer to the County championship Division One title.
The fast bowler returned career-best figures of to finish with a match haul of 12 for 95, another personal best and the first time he has collected 10 wickets in a match. In the process picked up his 50th Championship wicket of the season.
It was a phenomenal effort on his part, particularly as he had to lead the attack in the absence of Mohammad Amir who was sidelined with the back problem he suffered on the second day.
Somerset had been left a victory target of 289 but they were never able to mount a challenge after Porter left them in disarray in an opening spell that brought him four wickets in his first seven overs.
He began by forcing Marcus Trescothick to chop the ball onto his stumps with his second delivery and went on to get rid of Tom Rouse, Ed Byrom and James Hildreth at a cost of 34 runs before his first spell ended.
Porter was later able to pick up his 50th wicket of the campaign when he had Steven Davies taken at third slip by Nick Browne. He followed it up with the wickets of Jack Leach and Tim Groenewald to return innings figures of 7 for 55 as Somerset were bowled out for 109 despite the resistance of Craig Overton who defied the Essex attack for 103 minutes before falling to Simon Harmer for 36.
Off-spinner Harmer also claimed the wickets of Tom Abell and Dom Bess, neither of whom scored, to end with 3 for 29 as Essex were able to celebrate their fifth successive victory which sends them into next week’s match against nearest rivals Lancashire with a commanding 36 points lead.
Earlier Essex made 293 in their second innings after resuming on 158 for 4. Adam Wheater added 30 to his overnight 58 before he was caught behind while skipper Ryan ten Doeschate struck a fluent 67 from 90 balls before he presented Trescothick with an easy slip catch to provide off-spinner Jack leach with success.
Essex will now make the trip to Old Trafford next week with confidence sky-high over opponents Lancashire who are their nearest pursuers in the fight for the title.
Day Four | Tea Report
Essex added a further 9 runs after Lunch before their innings came to an end at 293 with Mohammad Amir unable to bat because of a back problem.
Both wickets after Lunch were claimed by Dom Bess as he trapped Simon Harmer lbw and had Jamie Porter caught behind.
But Porter was to make a dramatic impact when Somerset set off on their quest to make 289 for victory.
The paceman struck with his second delivery when Marcus Trescothick played on and he followed that success quickly with two more wickets.
Tim Rouse was caught behind in Porter’s second over and in his fourth, he removed Ed Byrom again with the help of Foster.
That left the West Country side 31 for 3 and they were plunged into deeper trouble one run later when off-spinner Harmer gained an lbw verdict to send Tom Abell back to the pavilion for a duck.
As Essex closed in on a victory that would make them odds-on favourites to lift the title, Porter was to strike again with the total on 42.
James Hildreth had contributed 22 of them when Foster held a fine catch low down.
Porter was eventually rested with figures of 4 for 34 from seven overs but Craig Overton and Steven Davies battled defiantly through 13 overs to take Somerset to 77 for 5 at Tea.
Day Four | Lunch Report
Essex built up a lead of 279 at lunch on the final day of their County Championship Division One clash with Somerset at The Cloudfm County Ground.
After resuming on 158 for 4, they reached the break on 284 for 7, with skipper Ryan ten Doeschate leading the way with 67.
He reached his half-century from 76 deliveries and it contained only four boundaries but his ability to find the gaps on either side of the wicket ensured the score moved along at an encouraging rate.
Adam Wheater carried his overnight score of 58 to 88 before he was caught behind the wicket by Steven Davies from a Craig Overton delivery that lifted sharply.
It included 11 fours and his departure following a stand of 77 in 20 overs paved the way for James Foster to join ten Doeschate and maintain the tempo.
He scored 22 while helping the skipper put together a half-century stand in nine overs but immediately afterwards, he was trapped lbw by Tim Groenewald.
Without addition to the total of 284, ten Doeschate’s fine innings came to an end with what proved the last ball before lunch. He got an edge pushing forward against spinner Jack Leach and Marcus Trescothick accepted an easy slip catch.
Day Three Reaction | Adam Wheater talks after a frustrating day at Chelmsford
Day Three’s Play
Day Three | Close of Play Report Essex and Somerset were frustrated in their attempts to continue their absorbing match when rain restricted play on Day Three to just 13 overs. In the time that was available, the league leaders added a further 41 runs to reach 158 for 4 before the rain arrived at 12.05pm to bring the curtain down on the day’s intended events. Rain had already delayed the resumption of play by 15 minutes when Essex resumed their second innings on 117 for 3 and they had gained an overall lead of 153 before the weather intervened once again. Their one setback came just before an early Lunch was taken when Nick Browne was bowled by Tim Groenewald for 83, an effort spanning 198 balls and including 12 fours and a six. The opener was 66 overnight and he and Adam Wheater made encouraging progress in their attempt to give the Championship leaders the ascendancy. Wheater, on 36 at the start of the day, was soon striking the ball sweetly and was to post only his second half-century of the season with a fluent drive at the expense of Paul van Meekeren that brought him his seventh boundary. That stroke also brought up the 100 partnership but Browne’s fine innings was ended soon afterwards as the stand came to an end having raised 118 in 45 overs. The rain arrived with Wheater on 58 and Ryan ten Doeschate still to get off the mark. There is one day left for play with a resumption scheduled at 11.00am tomorrow. Day Three | Lunch Report Essex added a further 41 runs to move to 158 for 4 before rain cut short their progress on the third morning of the County Championship clash with Somerset at The Cloudfm County Ground. Rain had already delayed the resumption of play by 15 minutes when Essex resumed their second innings on 117 for 3 and they had gained an overall lead of 153 before the weather intervened once again. Their one setback came just before an early Lunch was taken when Nick Browne was bowled by Tim Groenewald for 83, an effort spanning 198 balls and including 12 fours and a six. The opener was 66 overnight and he and Adam Wheater made encouraging progress in their attempt to give the Championship leaders the ascendancy. Wheater, on 36 at the start of the day, was soon striking the ball sweetly and was to post only his second half-century of the season with a fluent drive at the expense of Paul van Meekeren that brought him his seventh boundary. That stroke also brought up the 100 partnership but Browne’s fine innings was ended soon afterwards as the stand came to an end having raised 118 in 45 overs. The interval arrived with Wheater on 58 and Ryan ten Doeschate still to get off the mark as the home side reached 158 for 4 wickets. Day Two Reaction | Nick Browne speaks after Day Two against Somerset Day Two | Close of Play Report An unbroken fourth wicket partnership of 78 between Nick Browne and Adam Wheater left Essex’s County Championship match with Somerset evenly poised when bad light and then rain brought the second day’s play at The Cloudfm County Ground to a premature close. The teams are due to resume tomorrow with the home side and Championship leaders 112 runs ahead after they had reached 117 for three when play was called off. Nick Browne has 66 and Adam Wheater is 36 not out. The pair had joined forces at 39 for 3 after Essex had trailed by just five runs on first innings having bowled the visitors out for 164. There had been a dramatic start to the day’s play when Mohammad Amir struck twice in the opening over to remove Jack Leach and Craig Overton without addition to the overnight 118 for five. And after that double blow, he returned to the pavilion to receive treatment for a back spasm. Amir however quickly returned to send down one more over before he left the field again and was to take no further part in the demise of Somerset. Jamie Porter was to emerge as the county’s most successful bowler as he picked up the wicket of Steven Davies to claim his third five wicket haul of the season in the Championship. Off-spinner Simon Harmer was to bring the visitors innings to an end when he got rid of Tim Groenewald and Paul van Meekeren in the same over. Porter finished with 5 for 40 from 17 overs while Amir and Harmer emerged with 2-22 and 2-42 respectively. Essex suffered a disastrous start to their second innings when Varun Chopra and Dan Lawrence departed with eight runs on the board, both lbw victims of Overton. When Ravi Bopara was stumped giving Leach the charge, the home side were in serious trouble. But they were rescued by Browne and Wheater, although the latter did survive a lucky escape on 14 when James Hildreth failed to hold onto a chance at slip with the total on 70. Browne, who top-scored in the Essex first innings with 44, followed up with another valuable effort that embraced solid defence with aggression when the wayward delivery came along. He completed his half-century from 128 balls with the eighth four of his innings and County will be looking for him to continue in the same vein in the morning. The left-hander’s boundary count was extended by a top-edged mistimed hook for 6 in an innings that has seen him face 159 deliveries during a 3 hours 10 minutes stay at the crease. Wheater has so far collected four boundaries and faced 96 balls. Shortly before the premature close umpire Neil Mallender, who was unwell, was replaced by Cricket Liaison Officer Phil Whitticase although he stood at square leg throughout. Day Two | Tea Report At the tea interval, Nick Browne was on 54 and Adam Wheater 16 with the fourth wicket pair having added 45 in carrying Essex to 84 for 3 to give the league leaders a lead of 79 runs. Having resumed on 8 for 2 after Lunch, Essex were to lose a third wicket with the total on 39 when Ravi Bopara was beaten in the flight advancing down the pitch to spinner Jack Leach. His dismissal left a big responsibility resting on the shoulders of Browne and a couple of shots either side of the wicket brought him boundaries. He had been joined by Adam Wheater but soon after reaching double figures and with the total on 70, Wheater was given a “life” as James Hildreth failed to hold onto a sharp slip catch above his head. Browne, who top-scored in the first innings with 44, reached a valuable half-century when he found the cover boundary against spinner Dom Bess to register his eighth four. He also had a 6 to his name having top-edged the ball over third man when he attempted to hook a delivery from Craig Overton. Day Two | Lunch Report Championship leaders Essex conceded a narrow first innings deficit of 5 runs after bowling Somerset out for 164 on the second day of their County Championship clash at The Cloudfm Ground. But then Essex suffered a horrendous start to their second innings when Craig Overton trapped both Varun Chopra and then Dan Lawrence leg before wicket with only 8 runs on the board. The lunch interval arrived with the home side just three runs ahead with Nick Browne 7 not out and Ravi Bopara still to get off the mark. There was a dramatic start to the morning’s play after the visitors had resumed on 118 for 5. It featured fast bowler Mohammad Amir who took two wickets without addition to the overnight total and then retired to the pavilion after receiving treatment on the pitch for a back spasm. Amir returned minutes later to send down another over but then departed again for the remainder of the innings leaving twelfth man Callum Taylor to carry out his fielding duties. In that eventful first over, Amir had Jack Leach caught behind from the day’s second delivery before yorking Craig Overton four balls later. Steven Davies stayed long enough to reach double figures before he was done by the lightning reflexes of wicket-keeper James Foster. Simon Harmer failed to hold on to a chance at second slip but Foster dived full length to his left to pull off a magnificent catch as the ball was about to hit the ground. That gave Jamie Porter his third fifth wicket haul in Championship cricket this season before off-spinner Harmer was to bring Somerset’s response to an end by getting rid of Tim Groenewald and Paul van Meekeren in the same over. Those successes saw the South African bowler reach the milestone of 50 Championship wickets in the season but it was Porter with 5 for 40 from 17 overs who emerged with the bowling honours. Day One Reaction | Porter leads fightback on the opening day Day One’s Play:
Day One | Close of Play Report:
Jamie Porter bowled Championship leaders Essex back into the game after they had been dismissed for a disappointing 159 on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship clash with Somerset at The Cloudfm County Ground.
By the close, he had picked up four wickets at a cost of 27 runs as the visitors responded with 118 for 5. Steven Davies is unbeaten on 7 and Jack Leach is 8 not out.
The only Essex partnership of note featured Nick Browne, who made 44, and Ryan ten Doeschate who contributed 35 of a fifth wicket stand of 51.
Varun Chopra, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara and Adam Wheater all failed to reach double figures as the first four wickets went down for 39.
A fifth would have been achieved by the West Country side one run later had Ed Byrom not spilled an easy catch at square leg offered by Browne when the opener had reached 24.
That reprieve enabled Browne and ten Doeseschate, to launch a recovery of sorts before both were removed soon after lunch that had been taken with Essex 89-4.
Ten Doeschate departed with the score on 90 and Browne went seven runs later.
Both Paul van Meekeren, on Championship debut, and Craig Overton picked up four wickets each at a cost of 60 and 40 respectively, on a pitch that offered swing if the ball was pitched up.
Even so, the Essex batsmen generally looked out of sorts as the innings subsided meekly.
It was only a spirited 22 not out for Mohammad Amir containing five fours that saw the county move beyond the 150 mark to leave their bowlers with a big task to haul their side back into the game.
They responded positively and soon had Somerset struggling at 20 for 3 as Porter removed Marcus Trescothick, caught behind and Byrom when the bowler breached his defences.
Bopara claimed the other early wicket, that of Tim Rouse, before James Hildreth and Tom Abell seized the initiative by carrying the total onto 98.
But then Porter, watched by England fast bowling scout Geoff Arnold, returned for another spell to make a telling input.
Somerset skipper Abell had made 30 when he was snapped up at slip by Chopra while Hildreth, having completed a fine half-century from 67 balls that embraced six boundaries, was superbly caught by Bopara at mid-wicket from a mistimed hook.
It all left Essex going into the second day with renewed hope but with plenty of hard work ahead if they are to gain the ascendancy.
Day One | Tea Report:
Hopes of a substantial Essex recovery quickly evaporated after Lunch as they lost the last six wickets for 60 runs in reaching 159 all out.
The top-of-the-table home side had resumed on 89 for 4 but were in immediate trouble when play recommenced.
Ryan ten Doeschate was dismissed without adding to his lunch score of 35 when he was caught at slip by Marcus Trescothick to end a stand of 51 with Nick Browne and to provide Craig Overton with his third success.
Browne was caught at square leg for 44 in Overton’s next over and a seventh wicket, that of James Foster, fell before the 100 was reached.
He became a slip victim of Tim Groenewald but a flourish by the tail carried Essex beyond 150.
Mohammad Amir struck five boundaries in an unbeaten 22 while Paul Walter, Simon Harmer and Jamie Porter all managed to reach double figures before they departed.
Paul van Meekeren got rid of Walter and Harmer on his way to figures of 4 for 60 while Overton bowled Porter to bring the innings to an end and finish with 4 for 40.
Essex did not have to wait long for success with the ball when the visitors replied, Porter having Trescothick caught behind by Foster with only two runs on the board.
But Ed Byrom and Tim Rouse negotiated the final six overs before tea was taken with the total of 9 for one.
Day One | Lunch Report:
Specsavers County Championship leaders Essex experienced a torrid start after winning the toss against Somerset at The Cloudfm County Ground.
They lost their first four wickets for only 59 and should have suffered a further setback immediately afterwards before recovering to reach lunch on 89 without further loss.
The interval arrived with opener Nick Browne on 39 and Ryan ten Doeschate 35 not out, the pair having fashioned an unbroken 50 runs partnership.
Paul van Meekeren, on his Championship debut, was responsible for the home side’s woes early on as he trapped Varun Chopra lbw for 9 and then had Dan Lawrence edging to James Hildreth at first slip without scoring.
That left Essex 21 for 2 in the 8th over and Ravi Bopara became the next casualty. With the score on 39, he was removed by Craig Overton when trapped in front of his stumps for a single while Adam Wheater fell to Tim Groenewald for three to leave Essex reeling at 39 for 4.
A fifth wicket should have gone down with the total on 40 but Ed Byrom put down a straight forward catch when Browne clipped Groenewald to square leg. Browne’s escape came when he had made 24, either side of which he found the boundary with firm drives.
A couple of fours from a van Meekeren over enabled ten Doeschate to raise the 50 and he quickly followed-up with another couple of boundaries to bring much-needed momentum to the Essex innings.
At lunch, van Meekeren had figures of 8-2-28-2, Overton 8-3-14-2 and Groenewald 7-2-13-1.
