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Match Report | Essex v Surrey

Posted on Saturday 27 May 2017

Essex team | Nick Browne (10), Alastair Cook (26), Tom Westley (21), Dan Lawrence (28), Ravi Bopara (25), Ryan ten Doeschate* (27), James Foster+ (7), Simon Harmer (11), Neil Wagner (13), Matt Quinn (94), Jamie Porter (44).

Surrey team | Mark Stoneman (23), Rory Burns (17)*, Scott Borthwick (6), Kumar Sangakarra (11), Dom Sibley (45), Ben Foakes (7), Sam Curran (58), Tom Curran (59), Amar Virdi, Stuart Meaker (18), Ravi Rampaul.

Umpires | J.W. Lloyds & N.A. Mallender

Toss | Surrey won the toss and elected to bat

Day Four | Jamie Porter speaks after taking career best match figures of 9-160

Day Four | Close of Play Report

Kumar Sangakkara fell 16 runs short of a record sixth consecutive Championship century when he patted the ball anticlimactically back to Essex’s part-time spinner Tom Westley.
The scene had been set for the Sri Lankan to equal not only the Championship best, but clock up his onehundredth hundred across all forms of the game.
The crowd at Chelmsford were stunned into silence as the master batsman started the long trudge back to the pavilion before bursting into a heartfelt and sympathetic round of applause.
He now has 853 runs in red-ball cricket this season at an average of just over 106.
There had been a doubt at one stage whether Sangakkara would even get the chance to the challenge the record. He was stranded on 79 not out when the umpires took the players off for bad light. They did not return for 75 minutes with light meters having been checked regularly.
When the captains shook hands at 4.51pm, Surrey were 246 runs ahead in their second innings with one wicket still to fall.
The draw maintained Essex’s one-point advantage over Surrey at the top of the Specsavers County Championship. The two teams meet again at Guildford at the end of next week in what could be one of the season’s pivotal matches.
It looked at one point as if Jamie Porter was going to set up Essex’s third win of the season when he claimed five wickets in 27 balls to post his first nine-wicket match haul. He finished with five for 71 in the second innings.
Porter is in a rich vein of form: he posted best List A figures (four for 40) two weeks ago, career-best first-class figures (five for 24) against Hampshire last week and now best match figures (nine for 160).
But while Porter was particularly destructive, Harmer had been the epitome of tight bowling, at least before Sangakkara’s entrance. He had just dismissed Rory Burns for 50, caught and bowled low down to his right, and had figures of one for 11 from 10 overs before Sangakkara took a liking to his off-spin.
Harmer’s second ball to the Sri Lankan was swept for four, and was followed by two sumptuous cuts for four and three more in the next two overs.
Sangakkara, when 25, a survived a serious lbw appeal by Harmer to the final ball he faced before lunch. Umpire Jeremy Lloyds’s finger stayed resolutely by his side.
Burns and Scott Borthwick pieced together a second-wicket partnership of 63 in 26 overs with the stand-in Surrey captain reaching his half-century from 107 balls with a quick single into the on-side.
But Borthwick’s departure in the stroke of lunch precipitated the clatter of wickets, all to Porter. A tickle down leg-side accounted for Borthwick, and first ball after the break Dom Sibley prodded forward and provided Foster with a tumbling catch to his right. So, 151 for two had suddenly become 151 for four.
It was 159 for five in Porter’s next over when Ben Foakes failed to check his drive and chipped a tame catch to Ravi Bopara at midwicket. Two runs later and Sam Curran was on his way, lbw to Porter’s slower ball. At that stage Porter had four wickets at a personal cost of three runs.
His fifth wicket wasn’t long in coming, either, as Tom Curran was taken one-handed, diving low to his right by Foster.
But, as he did in the first innings with 49 at No10, Stuart Meaker came in and built a key partnership with Sangakkara that stopped Essex’s momentum in its tracks.
When Porter was replaced at the Hayes Close End by Neil Wagner, he had taken five for 71 from 18 overs. Wagner replaced Porter at the Hayes Close End, but was nowhere near as accurate and went for three successive boundaries to Sangakarra, who reached a 72-ball half-century in the process.
Sangakkara resumed his onslaught against Harmer deep into the afternoon, hitting the spinner for two scorching drives through the off-side to move effortlessly into the seventies.
But when Meaker ducked into a short-pitch delivery from Wagner that thudded into his jaw, the umpires decided the light was too bad to continue. When they returned, Wagner completed the over judiciously off a 10-yard run-up. However, even then he bowled one ball into the bowlers’ footmarks and it ballooned over Foster’s head to the boundary.
Meaker went to the ninth ball after the resumption, bowled around his legs by Harmer for 24. Two wickets were left, Sangakkara was on 80 and Essex had Westley on at the other end. But it was Westley who ended the fairytale.

Day Four | Tea Report

Jamie Porter ripped through the Surrey batting post-lunch at Chelmsford to claim his first nine-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
When the players went off for bad light, and an early tea, the Essex seamer had figures of nine for 160 after taking five wickets for 71 in the second innings. At one stage he had claimed four wickets in 14 balls.
All of which threatened to overshadow Kumar Sangakkara’s quest to reach a record six consecutive Championship centuries. The Sri Lankan was 79 not out from 93 balls at the interval with Surrey 229 runs ahead with three wickets in hand and 42 overs remaining in the match.
Porter started the mid-innings collapse with wickets in successive deliveries either side of lunch. Scott Borthwick went to a leg-side catch behind and Dom Sibley first ball, prodding forward for James Foster to take a tumbling catch to his right.
Porter took a third wicket in his next over when Ben Foakes failed to check his drive and chipped a tame catch to Ravi Bopara at midwicket. Two runs later and Sam Curran was on his way, lbw to Porter’s slower ball. At that stage Porter had taken four quick wickets at a personal cost of three runs.
His fifth wicket wasn’t long in coming, either, as Tom Curran was pouched one-handed by Foster, diving low to his right.
When Porter was replaced at the Hayes Close End by Neil Wagner, he had taken five for 71 from 18 overs. Wagner was not accurate and went for three successive boundaries from Sangakarra, who reached a 72-ball half-century in the process.
Sangakkara had been particularly severe on Simon Harmer before lunch, and he hit the spinner for two scorching drives through the off-side to move into the seventies.

Day Four | Lunch Report

Kumar Sangakkara, chasing a record sixth successive Championship century, demonstrated the full range of his shots as he reached 25 from 31 balls before lunch at Chelmsford.
The top of the Specsavers County Championship match may be heading inexorably towards a draw, but the Sri Lankan veteran showed respect for the good balls while despatching the bad ones to the boundary.
At the interval Surrey had increased their 41-run overnight lead to 137 with seven wickets still standing. Rory Burns was the first wicket to fall in the morning, out for exactly 50, before Scott Borthwick was caught behind off Jamie Porter for 36 from the last ball of the session.
Surrey took 23 balls before adding to their overnight 55 for one, Burns guiding Porter backward of square for two. The scoreboard in motion, the stand-in Surrey captain took two fours in one Porter over, both off his legs, one fine, the other square.
Scott Borthwick pulled Porter through midwicket and then controlled a thick edge wide of the slips off Neil Wagner. Simon Harmer switched to the River End and had Borthwick in a bit of trouble before the Surrey batsman went back to a shorter delivery and caned it through the covers for another four. It was a noteworthy stroke as the South African’s first nine overs had gone for just nine runs.
Burns reached fifty from the 107th ball he faced with a push to midwicket and a quick scamper off Matt Quinn. But without addition he drove Harmer low to the bowler’s right and departed caught and bowled.
Sangakkara was off the mark second ball, sweeping to the boundary and harming Harmer’s figures, which then had increased to 10-6-15-1. More was to come. He rocked on to the back-foot twice and cut fours in successive Harmer overs before looking for a big heave over midwicket. Fortunately his back foot was anchored in the crease as James Foster whipped off the bails.
Harmer’s analysis took a serious knock as Sangakkara took three further boundaries from his next two overs. But Harmer thought he had the prized wicket with his last ball before lunch when Sangakkara was pinned on his back-foot, but umpire Jeremy Lloyds’s finger stayed by his side.

Day Three | Reaction – Lawrence talks of a superb first innings century.

Day Three | Close of Play Report

After Dan Lawrence had scored  his second Championship century of the season for Essex , bad light and rain had the final word on the third day of in the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash versus Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Lawrence scored 107  before half-centuries  from Ryan ten Doeschate and Neil Wagner helped to take the home side to an all out 383 and a slender lead of just 14 runs.

Before the weather intervened to knock 26 overs off the day’s scheduled allocation, Surrey  reached 55  for 1 in their second innings with Rory Burns unbeaten on 21 and Scott Borthwick 1 not out.

Essex had resumed on 215 for  three but quickly lost Ravi Bopara when he was bowled shouldering  arms against Tom Curran to a delivery that nipped back sharply. It brought an end to a partnership of 106, Bopara having accounted for 39, and Lawrence followed soon after.

Lawrence became an lbw victim of Stuart Meaker following a superb innings that brought him 15 boundaries in an effort that spanned 208 balls. James Foster struck a brisk 21 before spinner Amar Virdi bowled him on the stroke of lunch.

In the same over after the break, he had Simon Harmer neatly stumped by Ben Foakes for a duck leaving ten Doeschate  and Wagner to pull the innings back in on an even keel.

Ten Doeschate completed  his half-century with the assistance of six fours, three in an over against Meaker, before falling lbw to Virdi for 53. His departure persuaded Wagner to step up a couple of gears and some forceful driving and pulls carried him to his first 50 for the county which contained 8 boundaries.

But without addition, the batsman was removed by Ravi Rampaul and the innings was brought to an end in the next over when Meaker bowled Matt Quinn.

Essex might have been celebrating a wicket before the arrears were cleared but Lawrence was unable to hold onto a difficult chance at gully offered by Mark Stoneman. Burns also survived a difficult chance to ten Doeschate at mid-on shortly afterwards, and on both occasions Jamie Porter was the unlucky bowler.

In the end, it was Wagner who broke the opening stand with the total on 50 to account for Stoneman for 28 as Alastair Cook pulled off a magnificent catch low down to his left at first slip.

But then the weather intervened. Bad light sent the players into the pavilion at 5.45 p.m. and a few minutes later, torrential rain put paid to any hopes of resuming play with play called off for the day at 6.00 p.m.

It means the visitors will start the final day 41 runs ahead.

Day Three | Tea Report

Amar Verdi was to strike again when he resumed his over after lunch with the home side 305 for 6. With the forth ball after the resumption, he beat Simon Harmer to present Ben Foakes with an opportunity to pull off a neat stumping.

Ryan ten Doeschate however continued to assert his authority to reach a fine half-century containing six fours and arriving from 75 balls before he became the 18 year-old spinner’s third victim after making 53 to leave Essex 344 for 8.

Verdi trapped him leg before wicket and his departure persuaded Neil Wagner to open his shoulders.

Twice he drove Verdi back over the bowler’s head and also dealt out punishment to Stuart Meaker and Ravi Rampaul on his way to posting his first half-century for the county.

He got there with his eighth boundary but without addition, Rampaul gained his wicket having him caught by Kumar Sangakkara to end his innings spanning 104 minutes and 91 balls.

In the next over, Meaker brought the innings to a close by bowling Matt Quinn by which time the home side had moved to 383 to establish a narrow lead of 14 runs.

Tea was taken immediately.

Day Three | Lunch Report

Essex were left relying a great deal on skipper Ryan ten Doeschate to carve out a first innings lead in their top-of-the-table Division One clash with Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground.

They reached the interval on 305 for 6, still 64 adrift after losing two early wickets.

Resuming on 215 for 3 in response to a total of 369, the home side lost overnight pair Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara for the addition of 41 runs.

Burt Lawrence did have the satisfaction of completing his second Championship century of the summer with the help of 15 boundaries before falling leg before to Stuart Meaker for 107.

Bopara was the first casualty when , on 39,  he lost his off stump shouldering arms to Tom Curran when the paceman brought a delivery back into his opponent. His departure brought an end to a stand of 106 with just 17 added to the overnight score.

James Foster opened his account with a couple of off-side fours in an over from Meaker before the wicket-keeper/batsman moved into the 20’s by pulling Sam Curran  to the mid-wicket boundary to bring up the 300 and earn Essex their third batting point.

However, on the stroke of lunch, Foster was bowled by Amar Virdi for 21 following a stand of 49 to give the bowler his maiden first-class wicket.

The interval arrived with ten Doeschate, the last of the recognised batsman, on 31 not out that included five fours from his innings that has thus far spanned 39 balls.

Day Two | Match Highlights

Day Two Reaction | Nick Browne in the runs on the second day of play

Day Two | Close of Play Report

An unbroken partnership of 89 between Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara took Essex to 215 for 3 at the close of the second day’s play in their top-of-the-table Division One Specsavers County Championship clash with Surrey at The Cloudfm County Ground.

That leaves the home side 154 runs adrift of their opponents after Surrey were bowled out for 369.

Just a day after being awarded his county cap, Lawrence underlined just why he is being tipped for the highest honours in the game.

He was totally at ease against pace and spin whilst seemingly possession plenty of time to keep the scoreboard ticking over with his ability to coax the ball into the gaps.

Lawrence reached his 50 containing 8 fours and added another three boundaries to leave the match evenly poised at the halfway stage.

He has so far batted for almost three hours and faced 154 deliveries and will resume on 78 while Bopara, with the help of some exquisite drives, will take guard again in the morning 33 not out and set to face the second new ball which is due immediately.

The pair had come together in the 47th over with the total on 126 having joined forces after Nick Browne had clipped Stuart Meaker to mid-wicket immediately after posting his first half-century of the season.

It contained nine fours but although never at his fluent best, he showed characteristic application. He needed 150 deliveries to reach his 50 but was destined to depart two balls later.

Browne and Alastair Cook had launched the Essex reply with a sound start putting on 61 before being parted when Cook was trapped lbw by Tom Curran for 36.

Then Tom Westley, having scored 16, snicked Sam Curran to former Essex wicket-keeper Ben Foakes to leave the home side 87 for 2.

In the morning, Surrey added another 35 runs after resuming on 334 for 7, Jamie Porter picking up two wickets to finish with 4 for 89 from 27 overs.

He firstly broke a stand of 110 by having Stuart Meaker caught behind for 49 and then bowled Amar Virdi for five.

But it was off-spinner Simon Harmer who was to bring the visitors innings to an end when Kumar Sangakkara drove into the hands of Neil Wagner at long-off immediately after completing his double-century.

His magnificent effort spanned seven and a quarter hours, 321 balls and included 27 fours.

Day Two | Tea Report

Essex added 69 runs in the post-lunch session whilst losing three wickets as they reached the tea interval on 127 for 3 from 48 overs in the Specsavers County Championship clash at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Alastair Cook had added only 2 more runs to his lunch score of 34 when he was removed lbw by Tom Curran with the total on 61.

That brought Tom Westley to the crease but he and Nick Browne were so subdued that they needed 15 overs to advance the total to 87 before Surrey were able to celebrate their second success.

Westley was the man to depart. He had batted or an hour and contributed 16 when he edged Sam Curran to wicket-keeper Ben Foakes.

Meanwhile, opener Browne continued his watchful approach. Although he lacked fluency, his determination could not be faulted as he moved steadily towards his first half-century of the season.

A lofted off-drive by Dan Lawrence brought up the 100 in the 36th over and he followed it up with another boundary, this time turning Stuart Meaker to the fine leg fence.

Browne eventually reached his 50 from 150 deliveries when he pulled Meaker to the ropes to register his ninth four.

However, two deliveries later, and still facing Meaker, his vigil came to an end when he found the hands of Tom Curran at mid-wicket.

That left Ravi Bopara keeping Lawrence company until tea, the latter reaching the break on 23 with Bopara still to get off the mark as the home side wnet into tea still 242 runs behind.

Day Two | Lunch Report

Alastair Cook and Nick Browne made a confident start when Essex responded to Surrey’s 369 all out in the top-of-the-table Division One clash of the Specsavars County Championship clash at The Cloudfm County Ground.

By lunch, they had carried the total to 58 without loss and without looking in any trouble.

Cook produced a classic straight drive that raced the boundary off Tom Curran plus a couple of well-timed strokes off his legs as he reached the interval on 34 with the help of 6 fours. By the break, Browne too had played pleasingly to gather 24 runs having found the boundary on 4 occasions.

Earlier, Surrey added a further 35 runs to their overnight score before their innings was brought to an end by Sangakkara’s dismissal. He had just completed his double-century when he drove spinner Simon Harmer into the hands of Neil Wagner at long-off. It brought to a close an individual effort that saw the batsman spend 7 and a quarter hours at the crease during which he faced 321 deliveries, 27 of which he sent to the boundary

Before his removal, Jamie Porter struck twice, first bringing an eight wicket stand of 110 to an end by having Stuart Meaker caught behind just one run short of his half-century.

Amar Virdi had scored 5 when he had his off stump uprooted by Porter on his way to figures of 4 for 89 from 27 overs.

The only extras were two no balls, a statistic that underlined Foster’s fine performance behind the stumps although cynics will point out that very few deliveries got past the imperious Sangakkara’s bat.

Day One Reaction | Matt Quinn takes 3 wickets on a mixed day for Essex

 

Day One | Match Highlights

 

Day One | Close of Play Report

At the close of an absorbing opening day’s play between Essex and Surrey in the Specsavers County Championship Division One clash at The Cloudfm County Ground, Surrey had reached 334 for 7 with Kumar Sangakkara unbeaten on 177 and Stuart Meaker 43 not out.

After Matt Quinn and Jamie Porter had ripped out half of the Surrey side for 31, they and the rest of the Essex bowlers were put to the sword by the imperious Sangakkara.

The Sri Lankan maestro, who turns 40 in five months time, lit up the stage with a brilliant batting display to record his fifth successive Championship century to set a new county record.

Thanks largely to him and Sam Curran, who contributed 90 in a sixth wicket partnership worth 191, Surrey, who won the toss, were able to regain the initiative.

Essex started the match with a one point lead over their rivals and after 50 minutes play, Quinn and Porter had their opponents in disarray.

Quinn, with the help of Simon Harmer at second slip and Dan Lawrence in the gully, shot out Mark Stoneman and Rory Burns before the total had moved into double figures.

And the paceman was to strike again by having Scott Borthwick caught behind by James Foster, recalled to the side because Adam Wheater was nursing an ankle injury.

That success gave Quinn figures of 3 for 13 from his opening three overs and paved the way for Porter to plunge the visitors into deeper trouble.

He did so by bowling Dominic Sibley and Ben Foakes for 1 and 8 respectively, the former beaten for pace and the latter missing an attempted pull. But then came the recovery orchestrated by Sangakkara with Curran, his willing accomplice.

After conditions became easier – the ball had nipped about quite a bit in the first hour or so – they were to seize the initiative in superb style.

Sangakkara did receive one slice of luck in completing his 84-ball half-century with eight fours. That arrived after Alastair Cook had been unable to hold onto a difficult chance at first slip off the bowling of Neil Wagner. Soon afterwards, he was within a whisker of being bowled by off-spinner Harmer when pushing forward but otherwise, he gave a masterful exhibition.

Sangakkara’s driving, particular in the cover area, was exceptional as he went on to compile his century from 174 balls with 13 boundaries.

Curran, following a subdued start, was also to make the Essex bowlers toil and had hit two sixes and a dozen fours before he advanced down the pitch to Harmer when needing just ten runs for his century and was neatly stumped by Foster.

Their stand of 191 represented a Surrey record for the sixth wicket against Essex and Curran’s departure was quickly followed by that of his brother Tom, a victim of Ravi Bopara with the total on 229, when he was well caught by Nick Browne in the covers.

But the classy and commanding Sangakkara remained and reached the close with 23 boundaries to his credit having faced 276 deliveries in an innings spanning 6 hours and 12 minutes.

He also found another useful partner in the last session of the day’s play in Stuart Meaker. Together they added an unbroken 95 in a stand that saw the visitors achieve their third batting point.

Essex will have been disappointed that they could not make more of their brilliant start but it will be a day to remember for 19 year-old Lawrence who was awarded his county cap during the lunch interval.

Day One | Tea Report

Surrey were to gain the initiative in superb style after lunch as Kumar Sangakkara and Sam Curran made progress by adopting an aggressive approach to restore the innings to a score of 210 for 5 at Tea.

Sangakkara is unbeaten on 108 whilst Curran arrived at the break with 82 to his name.

Sangakkara did need a slice of luck in completing his 84-ball half-century, the stroke taking him there finishing up at the third man boundary when Alastair Cook was unable to complete a difficult chance to first slip.

The batsman was to celebrate with a pulled four against Neil Wagner in the same over, while Curran stepped up a gear with some forceful driving.

The visitors had floundered in the morning reaching Lunch on 67 for 5. Despite regularly rotating his attack, Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate  was unable to conjure up a breakthrough as Sangakkara and Curran left the bowlers toiling in the sweltering heat.

The 100 stand arrived in 32 overs and an acceleration came when Ravi Bopara was brought into the attack.

Curran greeted him with a pulled six as 33 came from his four overs before he was withdrawn from the attack.

Sangakkara was now looking in complete control, his off-driving being a very productive stroke against both pace and spin.

But it was Curran who was now the dominant force in terms of run getting and after completing his 50 from 103 balls with the assistance of 7 fours and one six, he smashed Simon Harmer for six when the spinner switched ends.

A straight driven four against Wagner carried Sangakkara to his fifth successive Championship century, it containing 13 fours and spanning 174 deliveries.

He was still defying all attempts to remove him as Tea arrived with the visitors sixth wicket pair having so far posted 179 runs.

Day One | Lunch Report

Matt Quinn took three wickets in 13 balls to blast a huge hole in Surrey’s top order in the top of the Specsavers County Championship match at Chelmsford.
The New Zealand-born seamer took wickets in each of his first three overs to reduce Surrey to 16 for three after they won the toss and opted to bat. Jamie Porter weighed in with two quick wickets and Surrey had lost half the side for 31.
By lunch, Kumar Sangakkara and Sam Curran had restored some order with a dogged sixth-wicket stand to take Surrey to 67 for five.
  Quinn struck with his third ball of the day, Mark Stoneman getting the thickest of thick edges to give Simon Harmer the catch at second slip. This after the first ball of the overs had been despatched to the boundary.
Rory Burns, deputising as captain in the absence of Gareth Batty, who has a toe injury, had gone for a contested toss. He was Quinn’s second wicket, Dan Lawrence taking a flying catch above his head in the gulley. It was Quinn’s 100th first-class wicket.
Number 101 duly arrived in the next over as Scott Borthwick gave a routine edge to wicketkeeper James Foster, playing his first Championship match of the season. At that point Quinn had three for 12.
Jamie Porter was soon in on the act, his sheer pace arrowing through Dom Sibley’s defences. Porter’s second was not long in arriving, Ben Foakes dragging the ball on to his stumps.
Sangakkara welcomed back Porter for his second spell by swivelling in the crease and turning the ball through midwicket for only his fourth boundary in 80 minutes’ batting.

Dan Lawrence awarded County Cap

Posted on Friday 26 May 2017

Essex batsman Dan Lawrence was awarded his County Cap at lunchtime of today’s Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey.

Having become a permanent member of the first-team fold and regularly making match winning contributions, the 19-year-old has received the great honour of being handed his Essex County Cap.

Lawrence saved the Championship game against Lancashire in April with a resilient 141* and emerged onto the scene with a debut hundred against Surrey at the tender age of 17.

It has been quite the week for Lawrence following an England Lions call up and now receiving his County Cap, and he commented: “It is definitely something you strive towards. Playing County cricket is one thing but receiving your County Cap is a very special feeling.

“The Lions call up was a lovely surprise and this just caps off a fantastic week.”

Head Coach Chris Silverwood is thrilled to see Lawrence awarded his Cap and added: “Dan thoroughly deserves this honour for his contributions to the team ever since he burst onto the scene.

“He has gone on to become a key member of our squad and if he continues to work as hard as he has done over the last couple of years he will have a very bright future in the game.”

Porter not fazed by Sangakarra challenge

Posted on Thursday 25 May 2017

With a cricket ball in his hand, Jamie Porter fears no man. It will be the same today when the in-form Essex seamer takes on English cricket’s in-form batsman, Surrey’s Kumar Sangakkara, in the Specsavers County Championship at Chelmsford.

The veteran Sri Lankan has scored centuries in each of his last four Championship innings, with a Bradmanesque average of 98.67 in red-ball cricket this summer, and is within 87 of passing one thousand runs across all formats by the end of May.

Porter, meanwhile, has taken career-best bowling figures in each of the last two weeks, claiming five for 24 in the Championship thrashing of Hampshire at the weekend, preceded by four for 40 in the Royal London Cup against Middlesex.

Porter, therefore, will relish rather than be apprehensive when Sangakkara arrives at the crease second wicket down. “I think the game is a lot harder if you fear your opponents. It’s easier not to,” he says.

“He’s obviously one of the great players of the modern game. But he is someone I wouldn’t want to fear too much because then you put all your eggs in one basket. If you worry too much about one player, you forget about the other 10. And that can be dangerous.

“If you bowl enough balls in the right area, like you would to anyone else, you may get him out. All I can do is put the ball on the spot as many times as possible.”

Essex top the Championship, one point ahead of Surrey, and Porter has noticed no discernible difference between Divisions One and Two since promotion last year.

He said: “I found it quite frustrating the season before this, my second full season, when people said it would be hard to do as well as I had in my first season and take fifty wickets again. I just thought it was a load of rubbish.

“I was bowling at the same players in the same environment and I was still getting them out. I thought the same this year. I bowled at Test players in Division Two, so they are not going to be worse than the guys I bowl to in this division. When you bowl to Alastair Cook in the nets every day, there is no one harder in the world to get out than that man. So I kind of knew there was no real secret to doing well in this division.”

So does he get Cook out much in the nets? “I’d love to say yes,” he laughs, “but not very often, no. He doesn’t give much away.”

Essex switched around their bowling attack against Hampshire with Matt Quinn opening with Porter and Neil Wagner coming on first change. The new new-ball pair ripped through the Hampshire top-order with five first-innings wickets in 17 balls. “I think you look at where you’re going to get the most out of each bowler,” says Porter.

“With Quinny, you know if he bowls up top, maybe he won’t get the wickets Wags does, but he is going to give us control with the new-ball. That allows me to be a bit more aggressive and take wickets. Then you’ve got Wags following who can be equally as aggressive and pick up the wickets.

“We just complement each other nicely. And I think it is more of a compliment to Wags that he can come in with the older ball and be just as dangerous as he would be with the new one.”

Of his part in the demolition of Hampshire, Porter, 24 yesterday, says: “There wasn’t any secret to what I was trying to do. I was actually under a bit of pressure before that spell because a lot of the lads were coming off and saying, ‘This is your pitch’. And I thought, ‘What if I don’t come off?’

“Then I thought all I have to do is what I usually do and that’s try to hit the top of off. I looked at the Specsavers badge at the top of off-stump, and said, ‘I want to hit that every ball’.”

Porter’s efforts put his name in the headlines, but he says: “It was nice to get the five-fer, but in my head it means nothing if I can’t back it up this week. It’s no use being a one-in-five or one-in-two-or-three bowler – you’ve got to be able to do it every week. It is more important to me that I put a shift in this week and bowl well.”

 

Match Report | Somerset v Essex Eagles

Posted on Sunday 14 May 2017

Somerset v Essex Eagles
Royal London One-Day Cup
The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton

Essex Eagles | Alastair Cook, Varun Chopra, Tom Westley, Ravi Bopara, James Foster (wk), Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Ashar Zaidi, Paul Walter, Simon Harmer, Neil Wagner, Matthew Quinn.

Somerset | Jim Allenby (c), Johann Myburgh, Peter Trego, Steven Davies (wk), James Hildreth, Adam Hose, Roelof van der Merwe, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Tim Groenewald, Max Waller.

Umpires | Stephen Gale & Michael Burns.

Toss | Somerset who elected to field.

Result | Essex Eagles won by 72 runs

Match Highlights

Close of Play Report | Essex Eagles beat Somerset by 72 runs at Taunton to leapfrog their West Country opponents and take over pole position in the Royal London One-Day Cup South Group.

The Eagles, who scored 334 for 6, now hold a two point lead at the top of the group with one match to play and on the cusp of a pace in the semi-finals of the competition after they bowled Somerset out for 262.

Neil Wagner (3-55) and Simon Harmer (3-56) shared 6 wickets but it was a fine all-round display from the Essex Eagles side that proved so important.

Tom Westley announced his return to form with 100, whilst an unbeaten 92 form Ravi Bopara plus 65 by Alastair Cook ensured that the Essex bowlers would have a decent score to defend on this compact ground and in front of a crowd numbering approximately 4,000.

The home side got off to a blistering start in pursuit of a challenging target when opener Johann Myburgh thrashed 57 off 28 balls that included 4 sixes and 6 fours – and all that after being dropped by Paul Walter off Matt Quinn having still to get off the mark.

He and Jim Allenby posted 64 in 7 overs before being parted but from thereon, the Eagles attack and fielding proved masterful.

Wickets fell at regular intervals to increase the pressure on the home side who started the game level on points with Essex but had the advantage of a better run-rate.

Following the demise of Myburgh who eventually gave Quinn the consolation of his wicket when caught by Varun Chopra in the deep, Peter Trego and Steven Davies were claimed off the bowling of Wagner and Harmer to leave the home side 108 for 3 in the 14th over.

Bowling with controlled line and length, Ashar Zaidi, Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate helped peg the run-rate back conceding 28 runs and not a single boundary between overs 18 and 26. Then until Hose found the ropes against Bopara whilst Allenby then struck two fours in the next over off ten Doeschate which forced the Essex skipper to withdraw from the attack as Zaidi was re-introduced.

Facing scoreboard pressure, Somerset wilted. James Hildreth spent 25 balls accruing 14 before ten Doeschate had him picked up by James Foster and at the halfway stage, the home side were 158 for 4.

When Allenby drove Wagner to Bopara at cover for 77 to end a 63 runs stand in 11 overs with Adam Hose and with the total on 202, Essex were in the driving seat.

Harmer then took two wickets n three deliveries, bowling Hose for 28 before having Jamie Overton caught at deep mid-wicket to leave Somerset 218 for 7 in the 36th over.

Roelof van der Merwe never looked at ease and was caught for 8 by Foster on the drive facing Wagner and although Craig Overton and Tim Groenewald put on a lustily-struck 32 in 4 overs, Bopara ended their fun by having Groenewald caught at long-on for 17 before Overton was run out by a direct throw from Simon Harmer at mid-off to complete a successful day for the Eagles.

Earlier, Westley and Cook had added 135 in 20 overs for the second wicket with Cook’s innings taking his tally of runs to 449 in 7 innings in the competition this season and at an average of 74.83 that embraced two centuries and two half-centuries.

Westley though was sublime timing the ball to perfection and reaching three figures from 95 balls with the assistance of 2 sixes and 10 fours.

He and Bopara added 53 before Westley was bowled attempting to sweep van der Merwe but bopara took over the responsibility of both anchoring the innings and also ensuring a substantial total for his side.

He and Zaidi added 88 in 10 overs with the latter contributing 32 but Bopara batted with increasing assurance. After a steady start, his fluency became increasingly evident as he dominated the bowling to finish unbeaten having overseen the addition of 105 runs form the final 10 overs.

1st Innings Report | A hundred from Tom Westley supported by an unbeaten 92 by Ravi Bopara and 65 from Alastair Cook took Essex, who had been put into bat, to 334 for 6 at the completion of the 50 overs in the Royal London One-Day Cup clash with South Group leaders Somerset at Taunton.

Westley played beautifully driving with immaculate timing to reach his “ton” from 95 balls with the assistance of 2 sixes and 10 fours. But having arrived at three figures, he was immediately dismissed when bowled by spinner Roelof van der Merwe to leave the visitors 209 for three in the 36th over.

Westley and Cook had posted 135 in 20 overs for the second wicket following the loss of Varun Chopra for 11 with 21 on the board in the 4th over. Combining positive driving and the skill to work the ball through the gaps, the pair laid the foundations for a respectable total.

Cook’s 50 arrived from 54 balls and contained 6 boundaries but with his score on 65, he attempted to cut a delivery of width from Jamie Overton and edged the ball to wicket-keeper Steven Davies.

That innings took Cook’s tally of runs to 449 in 7 innings in the competition this season and at an average of 74.83 that embraced two centuries and two half-centuries.  

Bopara joined Westley to add 53 runs with the former starting quietly. Westley’s departure was followed by Ryan ten Doeschate in van der Merwe’s next over to leave the Eagles 215 for 4 in the 38th over but Bopara stepped up a gear with the arrival of the enterprising Ashar Zaidi.

They kept the scoreboard moving with an 88 runs stand spanning 10 overs with a belligerent but sensible approach that combined the conventional and the improvised.

Zaidi finally departed for 32 when he was caught in the deep off Craig Overton and with a little more than two overs to go.

James Foster faced just the one delivery but was run out going for the third run leaving Paul Walter to join Bopara in the final assault.

Their efforts were briefly held-up by a rain stoppage lasting 15 minutes but on their return, 27 further runs were accrued form the remaining 12 deliveries. Walter struck his second delivery for 6 with an upper cut over the third man boundary before Bopara ended the innings with a straight 6 having faced 81 balls and collected 9 fours and one other six.

The Eagles were given a boost when they were able to include Neil Wagner in the starting line-up. The New Zealand fast bowler had been called up for his country who are involved in a Triangular Tournament with Ireland and Bangladesh but was able to negotiate his release for this vital clash with Somerset having missed the previous two games in the competition.

He replaced Jamie Porter from the successful eleven that beat Middlesex on Friday.

 

MATCH REPORT | Glamorgan v Essex Eagles

Posted on Sunday 7 May 2017

Glamorgan | Jacques Rudolph (c), David Lloyd, Will Bragg, Colin Ingram, Kiran Carlson, Chris Cooke (wk), Aneurin Donald, Craig Meschede, Marchant de Lange, Timm van der Gugten, Michael Hogan.

Essex Eagles | Alastair Cook, Nick Browne, Tom Westley, Varun Chopra, Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate (c), Ashar Zaidi, Adam Wheater (wk), Simon Harmer, Neil Wagner, Jamie Porter.

Umpires | M Burns & J Lloyds

Toss | Glamorgan won the toss and decided to bat

Result | Glamorgan won by 1 run

Audio | Centurion Chopra reflects on excruciating defeat

2nd Innings Report | Despite a superb 124 by Varun Chopra, the Eagles lost their Royal London One-Day Cup clash with Glamorgan at The Swalec by 1 run to bring an end to their unbeaten run in the competition.

Colin Ingram thrashed 142 for the home side in an innings full of belligerence that included 8 sixes and 6 fours and that carried the Welsh side to a challenging 281 for 7 wickets by the close of their innings.

The Eagles were in immediate trouble when they began their reply losing Nick Browne and Tom Westley for ducks before Chopra dispelled the crisis, figuring in two century stands. The first raised 104 in 22 overs with Alastair Cook before the England opener was caught for 37.

Then Ravi Bopara joined Chopra in a 108 runs partnership that took the total onto 214 in the 42nd over and Essex favourites to win before Bopara was dismissed in unfortunate manner. Chopra drove the ball firmly back to bowler Craig Meschade who could not hold onto the ball but instead, saw it deflected onto the wicket at the non-striker’s end where Bopara was out of his ground to be run out for 56.

Bopara had looked in serene form reaching his half-century from 42 balls assisted by a six and 4 fours but when he was dismissed, the innings capitulated alarmingly.

Adam Wheater had scored 14 when he was caught at deep mid-wicket and then two deliveries later, Chopra’s fine knock came to an end when he was bowled attempting to sweep Meschade.  Chopra’s efforts deserved better than to end on the losing side. Within his first seven overs at the crease, he three times cleared the boundary ropes when facing Marchant de Lange and his fifty arrived from 59 balls with 5 fours amongst his boundary tally.

Another 59 balls took him to his third List A century for Essex and when he was eventually dismissed, he had struck 3 sixes and 13 fours whilst facing 138 deliveries.

A score of 235 for 5 in the 44th over became 275 for 8 by the time of the final over; Ashar Zaidi being dismissed for 14 and Ryan ten Doeschate for 13 both attempting huge blows.

With just 7 runs required, Harmer collected 2 from the first delivery of the 50th and final over but after two “dot” balls, he was run out for 3 after an awful mix-up with Neil Wagner that saw both batsmen at the non-striker’s end before Harmer attempted, unsuccessfully, to recover his ground. Jamie Porter collected a bye from the penultimate delivery, then 2 byes were scrambled from the last ball to leave the Eagles tantalisingly short of their target on 280 for 9.

Earlier Glamorgan, who had elected to bat, soon lost their openers, Jacques Rudolph and David Lloyd, to Wagner who went on to return figures for 4 for 58 including the wicket of the magnificent Ingram.

But it was not before the South African batsman had recorded his third List A century in successive matches in the competition against Essex as he galvanised the Glamorgan innings.

He orchestrated three half-century stands, 98 with Will Bragg for the third wicket, 67 for the fourth wicket with Kiran Carlson and 61 in 8 overs with Chris Cooke. But it was the flailing bat of Ingram that proved the defining contribution.

Amongst his maximum blows were three sixes off ten Doeschate in the penultimate over of the innings that cost 22 runs in total with two of the blows landing on the pavilion roof.

The Eagles have the opportunity of returning to winning ways when they entertain Sussex at The Cloudfm County Ground on Wednesday.

1st Innings Report | Colin Ingram thrashed a magnificent century for Glamorgan at The Swalec to ensure that the Eagles would have a demanding challenge if they are to retain their unbeaten record in this year’s Royal London One-Day Cup.

The 31 year-old South African struck 142 from 130 deliveries with 6 fours and 8 sixes as the home side closed their innings on 281 for 7 with the visitors attack feeling the full brunt of his clean hitting onslaught.

He took a couple of maximum blows off Simon Harmer and one each off Jamie Porter, Neil Wagner and Ravi Bopara but reserved his full onslaught for Ryan ten Doeschate.

The Eagles skipper conceded three sixes to Ingram in the penultimate over of the innings and two of the mighty blows landed on the pavilion roof beyond deep mid-wicket.

That over yielded 22 runs before the batsman was caught in the final over – naturally in the deep. It was Wagner that claimed the wicket to give the bowler figures of 4 for 58 but Ingram had galvanised the Glamorgan innings with verve, imagination and immaculate clean hitting.

Wagner had struck twice early on after Glamorgan had won the toss removing both openers to leave the hosts 20 for 2 in the seventh over.

In the first 14 overs, just 19 scoring strokes had been executed but Will Bragg and Ingram set about restoring semblance of order. They posted a stand of 98 in 22 overs before the former was stumped by Adam Wheater off a wide sent down by Ashar Zaidi.

Bragg made 37 but Kiran Carlson continued the good work joining Ingram in a 67 runs partnership spanning 10 overs.

Carlson went to a smart return catch by Ravi Bopara for 36 but Ingram, having completed a half-century from 75 balls with 2 sixes and 2 fours, started to step on the gas.

Together with Chris Cooke 61 were accrued in just over 7 overs before ten Doeschate had Cooke caught at long on by Harmer for 17 but Ingram was now in full flow.

His hundred took 112 balls and included 6 fours and 3 sixes before he finally signed off in search of another maximum blow only to pick out substitute fielder Callum Taylor as eighty-eight runs were accrued from the final ten overs.

It was the third time in as many innings in the competition that Ingram had posted centuries against the Eagles.

Thanks to him Essex have a demanding task ahead.

Match Report | Surrey v Essex Eagles

Posted on Tuesday 2 May 2017

Surrey v Essex Eagles | Royal London One-Day Cup | The Kia Oval

Surrey | Mark Stoneman (23), Dom Sibley (45), Kumar Sangakkara (11), Rory Burns (17), Ben Foakes (7), Scott Borthwick (6), Sam Curran (58), Tom Curran (59), Gareth Batty (13), Ravi Rampaul (14), Jade Dernbach (16).

Essex Eagles | Alastair Cook (26), Nick Browne (10), Tom Westley (21), Varun Chopra (6), Ravi Bopara (25), Adam Wheater+, Ryan ten Doeschate* (27), Ashar Zaidi (99), Simon Harmer (11), Neil Wagner (13), Matt Quinn (94).

Umpires | NJ Llong & MJ Saggers

Toss | Surrey won & chose to bat

Result | Essex Eagles won by 1 wicket

Match Highlights

Match Report

Simon Harmer carried The Eagles to a 1-wicket victory against Surrey at The Kia Oval with an unbeaten 44 to leave his side with a perfect start in their Royal London One-Day Cup campaign, and a record of two wins from two matches.

In an absorbing low-scoring contest, the visitors had been set 211 for victory but were in deep trouble when they slumped to 128 for 7 in the 34th over.

But former South Africa Test all-rounder Harmer, who signed a two-year contract extension with Essex this week, proved up to the daunting task of securing victory for his side.

Surrey had been bowled out for 210 but what had seemed a modest score, appeared a daunting figure by the time Harmer, who joined Essex as a Kolkak player at the start of the season, strode to the middle with his side 128 for 7 and 16 overs left.

He and Ryan ten Doeschate set about restoring the Eagles interest in proceedings and they swelled the total with a half-century partnership spanning 8 overs before skipper ten Doeschate was caught behind the wicket for 45.

Neil Wagner scored 4 out of 14 for the penultimate wicket and when last man Matt Quinn arrived at the crease, Surrey looked favourites to succeed.

But the last wicket pair had other ideas and Quinn, who finished with 7 not out, played an admirable support role as Harmer picked off the runs.

The final over arrived with 4 runs needed and Harmer on strike. Sam Curran sent down a wide with the first delivery and after a ‘dot’ ball, a leg side delivery was steered backward of square to the boundary to complete the narrow success.

Ravi Bopara had earlier scored 36 and Tom Westley 34 but with wickets falling at regular intervals, Surrey held the initiative until Harmer’s intervention.

He had also returned figures of 2 for 45 when the home side opened proceedings having won the toss but they too struggled to make significant progress.

They were indebted to former Essex batsman/wicket-keeper Ben Foakes who struck an unbeaten 77 and figured in the only two worthwhile stands of the innings; 73 with Scott Borthwick and 57 with Tom Curran.

But with Quinn (3-34) and Bopara (3-46) well-supported by Neil Wagner (2-51) and Harmer (2-45), together with some keen fielding and excellent keeping from Adam Wheater that earned him four victims, the home side were bowled out in 47.4 overs.

Photo Gallery


Photos | Nick Wood (www.unshaken-photography.co.uk)

Interval Report

The Eagles dismissed Surrey for 210 in their Royal London One-Day Cup clash at The Kia Oval with Matt Quinn and Ravi Bopara sharing 6 wickets whilst Neil Wagner and Simon Harmer both claimed two wickets apiece.

Had it not been for a fine innings by former Essex player Ben Foakes, Surrey’s effort would have looked particularly miserable. Wicket-keeper batsman Foakes scored an unbeaten 77 as he held the innings together facing 92 deliveries of which he sent five to the boundary.

The home side won the toss but were soon in trouble against the new ball attack of Wagner and Quinn who reduced the opposition to 24 for 2 within 7 overs. Quinn had Mark Stoneman caught by Varun Chopra at cover for 3 whilst Wagner removed Kumar Sangakkara for 6 when Adam Wheater claimed the first of his four victims.

Wheater was quick to stump Dominic Sibley for 19 when the batsman stepped out to drive Simon Harmer   and the keeper added Tom Curran to his list of casualties when Quinn found a leading edge late in the innings and departed for 33.

Wheater’s finest dismissal though was to account for Sam Curran for a duck when he dived to his left to hold the ball inches from the ground as Ravi Bopara claimed his second wicket in as many deliveries.

That left the home side 119 for 6 with 15 overs remaining.

Foakes had arrived a the crease at 41 for 3 and played sensibly, driving selectively. He and Scott Borthwick added 73 in 19 overs before Bopara ended the stand that had lasted for just over an hour when he bowled Borthwick.

Tom Curran and Foakes added 57  in 10 overs for the 7th wicket but those two partnerships were the only stands of any significance.

In gathering gloom for the home side and the weather, Gareth Batty and Ravi Ramapul went for 7 and 2 respectively and although Jade Denbach clubbed a 6 off Quinn, it was the bowler who had the final word when Dernbach drove to Ryan ten Doeschate soon afterwards to leave the gallant Foakes out of partners.

Match Report | Somerset v Essex

Posted on Sunday 16 April 2017

Somerset v Essex | Specsavers County Championship | The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton | Friday 14 – Monday 17 April

Somerset team | Marcus Trescothick (2), Dean Elgar (64), Tom Abell (28)*, James Hildreth (25), Steven Davies + (11), Peter Trego (7), Lewis Gregory (24), Roelof van der Merwe (52), Craig Overton (12), Jamie Overton (8), Jack Leach (17).

Essex team | Alastair Cook (26), Nick Browne (10), Tom Westley (21), Dan Lawrence (28), Ravi Bopara (25), Adam Wheater + (31), Ryan ten Doeschate* (27), Simon Harmer (11), Ashar Zaidi (99), Neil Wagner (13), Jamie Porter (44).

Umpires | Michael Gough & Graham Lloyd

Scorers | A E Choat & G Stickley

Result | Essex won by 8 wickets 

Day Three | Match Highlights

Day Three | Close of Play Report

Alastair Cook produced a typical in innings of the highest quality scoring sublime century as Essex beat last year’s runners-up Somerset by 8 wickets at Taunton to register their first win since returning to Division One of the Specsavers County Championship.

England’s leading run-scorer was untroubled, easing his way to a classy 110 to act as the catalyst as the visitors chased down a target of 255 runs for victory with little concern.

He was given excellent support by Tom Westley who was 86 not out when the match concluded as the pair shared a second wicket partnership of 134 before Cook, who reached a chanceless century from 202 deliveries with 16 boundaries, was dismissed with Essex on the brink of success.

Essex had started the day on 10 without loss and Nick Browne and Cook took control immediately taking the score to 82 before Browne, who had batted responsibly for 35, slashed at a long-hop from Jamie Overton and was caught behind the wicket. That proved to be the only success for the home side before lunch just a day after 18 wickets had fallen.

Westley entered the scene and was soon off the mark playing with freedom and working the ball through the gaps particularly through the leg side whilst Cook cut and drove with well-timed shots.

Such was the authority in which the Essex batsmen played the home attack that they made the pitch look placid in contrast to it’s perceived vagaries on the opening two days.

By lunch, Cook and Westley had taken the total to 101 for one from 41 overs and with the home side looking increasingly dispirited.

There was no let-up for the home side after the break either as Cook, who had reached his half-century from 92 balls, continued to display immaculate shot selection in moving relentlessly towards three figures.

Westley, only the second player in the match to reach 50 arrived at his half-century from 87 balls with 9 fours and batting with excellent shot-selection. Cook’s hundred arrived soon after when he found the leg-side boundary when facing spinner Jack Leach.

The impressive partnership was broken just before tea and, somewhat surprisingly, by Dean Elgar’s second delivery of his return to Somerset. The South African Test batsman, whose slow left-arm spin was seemingly introduced as an afterthought by skipper Tom Abell, offered up a tempting short ball and saw Cook pull it straight to James Hildreth at mid-wicket.

But Cook had orchestrated the victory march for his side. At 216 for two, only a further 39 were required. By tea another 6 runs had been added with Westley by now on 62.

Somerset took the second new ball at 233 for two, with only 22 needed but the down-hearted hosts saw the first delivery pass for four byes before Westley, shortly afterwards, top-edged a six off Craig Overton.

Westley ended the match with a four off Lewis Gregory taking his tally to 16 boundaries including one six from the 146 deliveries he had faced. Accompanying him across the finishing line was Dan Lawrence who was 11 not out.

Essex claimed 19 points from a match and Somerset four in which fortunes oscillated dramatically. Having been delighted to dismiss Somerset for 209 in their first innings, Essex were then rolled over from 129 of which Cook scored 52. The home side then tottered to 124 for 9 before a last wicket stand of 50 revived their spirits leaving the visitors to make the highest score of the match if they were to win.

It was to prove a stroll in the park as victory was completed with more than a day to spare.

Day Three | Tea Report

Alastair Cook took Essex to the cusp of victory having scored 110 before he was dismissed in the penultimate over before tea. At the interval, Essex were 222 for 2 and just 33 runs short of completing victory. Tom Westley is 62 not out and Dan Lawrence will resume 4 not out.

In sunny and breezy weather, Cook and Westley batted beautifully after lunch, timing the ball to perfection as they drove and cut profitably – and regularly – to keep the scoreboard moving along whilst refusing to offer the bowlers any signs of encouragement.

Westley brought up his half-century with a cover drive off Jack Leach; his 9th four of an 87 ball innings at that stage.

In the next over from Leach, Cook reached his century with the 16th boundary of his innings and having faced 202 deliveries. He and Westley were in sight of tea having put on 134 in 40 overs when, with the total on 216, Cook was dismissed when caught at mid-wicket by James Hildreth after loosely pulling a delivery from Dean Elgar who was sending down his first over.

By then, he had batted for 4 hours and 22 minutes to mastermind the Essex pursuit of 255 to win.

Day Three | Lunch Report

Alastair Cook has taken Essex closer to victory with a chanceless half-century as the visitors reached 101 for 1 at the interval in pursuit of an overall target of 255 to beat Somerset at Taunton. The England opener was unbeaten on 56 when the break arrived whilst Tom Westley was 5 not out.

The only wicket to fall in a session that saw Essex add 91 runs was that of Nick Browne who had scored 35 out of 82 when he chased a wide long-hop from Jamie Overton and edged the ball to wicket-keeper Steven Davies.

Cook had faced 92 balls and struck 8 boundaries when he completed his second half-century of the match and so far, he is the only player from either side to reach 50 in the game.

Essex had resumed on 10 without loss and Cook and Browne made smooth progress, both finding the ropes in the first two overs of the day. Cook played the ball sweetly off his toes and through mid-wicket and then his opening partner drove the ball through the leg side to the deep mid-wicket zone.

Both continued to gather runs comfortably with a fine cover drove by Browne raising the 50 stand before the batsman straight drove the next ball to the ropes.

Cook had also swept finely on the leg side and after an hour’s play, the visitors had taken their score from an overnight 10 onto 62 without loss.

Browne had played with assurance and confidence and it was disappointing when he fell to a wayward delivery.

Cook though continued to play impressively offering no encouragement to the bowling attack and a couple of runs brought him to his fifty soon after Browne’s dismissal.

The Essex total was helped along courtesy of 5 wides from one ball from the wayward and by lunch, the visitors required a further 154 runs for victory. Cook has so far faced 118 balls.

Day Two | Match Highlights

Day Two | Close of Play Report

On a day when 18 wickets fell, Essex reached the close on 10 without loss in pursuit of 255 runs to win the match with two days still remaining at Taunton. Nick Browne is unbeaten on 6 whilst Alastair Cook will resume in the morning 4 not out.

After the visitors lost their last 8 first innings wickets for 65 runs, they clawed themselves back in contention when Neil Wagner produced a fine spell of leg theory short-pitched bowling in a spell in which he was rewarded with 5 wickets at a personal cost of 17 runs that reduced the home side to 124 for 9 and a lead of just over 200.

But Essex were then frustrated by a last wicket stand between Craig Overton and Jack Leach that raised 50 runs and the highest partnership of the innings before Wagner returned to end Essex’s frustration when Craig Overton was caught by Ashar Zaidi at third man off a sliced upper cut having scored 22.

That wicket gave the New Zealand Test pace bowler figures for the innings of 6 for 48 from 12.2 overs.

The home side had started their second innings with a lead of 80 runs but Jamie Porter claimed two wickets by the time 25 more runs had been added. Simon Harmer and Ravi Bopara carried on the early problems for the hosts to reduce them to 71 for 4 after James Hildreth’s 35 and 27 from Dean Elgar. Then Wagner took centre-stage.

The Somerset batsmen did not seem to relish Wagner’s attacking line with a number executing loose shots to flounder as the home side were reduced to 124 for 9 before being revitalised by the half-century stand.

Wagner accounted for Steven Davies who clubbed to point, Peter Trego who edged behind the wicket, Roelof van der Merwe who picked out mid-wicket, whilst Lewis Gregory pulled to deep fine leg before Jamie Overton top-edged a skier to Adam Wheater.

None of those batsmen managed more than 17 but with Wagner then given a well-deserved and earned rest, Essex were forced to wait for 50 minutes before they could polish off the innings.

And it was Wagner who raced in to claim the last wicket with his second delivery of a new spell and his sixth of the innings.

Earlier in the day, Essex resumed on 60 for 2 but by the time that Alastair Cook reached an 85-ball half-century that included 9 boundaries, Dan Lawrence a d Ravi Bopara had been dismissed for 0 and 8 respectively.

Cook was bowled by Gregory for 52 off an inside edge, and of the remaining batsmen, only Zaidi managed double figures. He scored 23 before he was the last man out as the visitors were rolled over for 129 with van der Merwe claiming 3 for 26.

Cook then returned to the crease for a second time in the day when he and Browne had to face 7 overs that were successfully negotiated to set up what could be an absorbing day’s play tomorrow.

Day Two | Tea Report

Having commenced their second innings with a lead of 80 runs after Essex were dismissed for 129, Somerset reached tea on 108 for 5 with Lewis Gregory on 5 and Peter Trego 17 not out.

Jamie Porter was in his second over with the new ball when he pinned Marcus Trescothick leg before wicket for 5 as the former England opener looked to play the ball into the leg side. 

Just 11 runs were on the board and Porter was celebrating again 14 runs later. He had what looked an excellent shout for lbw against Tom Abell turned down but with the next ball, the unnerved Abell was caught by Adam Wheater for a duck.

James Hildreth wasted little time in getting the scoring moving but he was given two lives, both off Ravi Bopara. He had reached 26 when he was dropped by Adam Wheater and four runs later, was dropped in the deep by Ashar Zaidi. Those errors allowed him to post a 44 runs stand in 9 overs with Dean Elgar but that came to an end when the opener was trapped leg before by Simon Harmer when he reached forward with his score on 27 to leave the home side 69 for 3. 

Two runs later and with his score on 35, Hildreth’s luck ran out when Harmer pulled off a fine catch in the gully to give Bopara a deserved wicket. With Essex seeking further wickets before tea to keep the door open on their chances of winning the game, they had to wait a further 8 overs and 29 runs before Neil Wagner brought a powerful drive from Steven Davies that went to Porter at point as the home side were reduced to 100 for 5.

Earlier in the session, the visitors first innings was soon wrapped up with both the remaining wickets falling in 7 deliveries for the addition of 8 runs. Jamie Overton found the edge of Wagner’s bat and was caught by wicket-keeper Davies for 5 before Zaidi was also claimed by Davies, this time for 23 and when facing Jack Leach.

Day Two | Lunch Report

A batting collapse was the story of the morning as Essex were reduced to 121 for 8 at the interval. Ashar Zaidi was unbeaten on 21 and Neil Wagner was still to get off the mark when the interval arrived to give the visitors, who lost 6 wickets in the session whilst adding 61 runs to their overnight score, some respite.

Had it not been for a half-century by Alastair Cook, the visitors plight would have been even worse. In contrast to his innings yesterday evening when he cut and drove with freedom, the former England captain found himself tied down by the spin of Jack Leach although a drive through mid-wicket to the boundary did advance him from his overnight 39 runs.

A single took him to his half-century having faced 85 balls from which he found the ropes on nine occasions but having reached 52, he was bowled by paceman Lewis Gregory off an inside edge as he played forward.

The fall of the wicket left Essex 81for 5, Dan Lawrence and Ravi Bopara having already come and gone.

Lawrence was trapped in front of his stumps by Craig Overton without score in the third over of the morning whilst Bopara, with the total on 81, attempted to sweep Leach and was bowled for 8. Cook departed without addition to that total and the visitors woes deepened with two wickets falling ten runs later and in the space of four balls.

Ryan ten Doeschate clipped a delivery from Gregory into the hands of James Hildreth at mid-wicket having scored 4 before Adam Wheater went in the next over when he played around a delivery from spinner Roelof van der Merwe.

Simon Harmer joined Ashar Zaidi to take the total into three figures and the pair posted the highest stand of the day before their 28 runs alliance ended when Harmer, who had contributed 9, pushed forward to van der Merwe and edged the ball into the gloves of Steven Davies.

Day One | Match Highlights

Day One | Close of Play Report:

Essex can be very satisfied with the performance on the opening day of the Specsavers County Championship match at Taunton having bowled Somerset out for 209 with Ashar Zaidi returning 3 for 17, his career-best figures for the county.

Alastair Cook then steered the visitors to 60 for 2 from 20.5 overs at the close with an unbeaten 39 although Tom Westley was bowled for 10 in the final over, one of 6 wickets to fall to spin in the day

Cook executed some classic drives that at one stage brought him 4 boundaries in six balls when facing paceman Jamie Overton. Of his first 33 runs, twenty-eight had come in fours.

Somerset won the toss but were undone by slow left-arm bowler Zaidi who was well-supported by fellow spinner Simon Harmer who took 2 for 51 whilst Ravi Bopara and Neil Wagner chipped in with two wickets apiece at a cost of 10 and 78 respectively.

Whilst Harmer was brought into the attack in the 12th over of the morning, Zaidi had to wait until immediately after lunch before he was given the ball but took only three overs before he was to gain his first victim.

That was south African Test batsman Dean Elgar who had batted through the morning session but lost his wicket when he came down the pitch and was beaten and stumped by Adam Wheater for 34. The bowler also accounted for Roelof van der Merwe who was trapped leg before and Jamie Overton who played an ugly swipe to a delivery, missed and the ball rattled middle stump.

Somerset openers Marcus Trescothick and Dean Elgar posted a half-century stand before Bopara captured two wickets in 10 balls both with the assistance of Alastair Cook at first slip.

Marcus Trescothick had scored half of the 52 runs on the scoreboard when he was caught off the edge of the bat when Cook dived to his right at first slip to hold a low catch. Then two runs later Cook held a knee-high catch to send Tom Abell on his way.

James Hildreth and Elgar then composed the highest partnership of the day with a third wicket stand of 54 before Elgar departed to be followed by Hildreth, who was caught by Bopara at fine leg to give the deserving Jamie Porter a wicket.

That left the home side 112 for 4 and that became 130 for 5 with the departure of Steven Davies when Harmer turned a ball past his bat to hit off stump.

With the visitors now in control, Wagner, who had maintained a leg-side approach to Lewis Gregory, gained reward when Harmer, stationed at short fine leg, caught the batsman.

Trego who top-scored with 48, looked confident and play aggressively but lost the services of van der Merwe with the score on 176 before he became a Zaidi victim 12 runs later. Zaidi grabbed his third wicket and Wagner wrapped up the innings when Jack Leach skied an intended drive into Wheater’s gloves.

The Essex openers had faced just two overs during which time, Cook got the scored moving with a couple of runs before bad light interrupted proceedings. After a half-hour hold-up, play resumed but within 6 overs, Nick Browne was dismissed for 11 when he played inside a ball from Craig Overton and was bowled.

Cook’s quality innings proved one of the features of the day but the loss of Tom Westley with what proved to be the final ball of the day gave the home side a welcome boost.

Day One | Tea Report:

An excellent session for Essex who captured five wickets to leave their opponents 186 for 7 at the tea break.

There were two wickets for Ashar Zaidi and one each for Jamie Porter, Simon Harmer and Neil Wagner as the home side added 91 runs to their lunch score.

Zaidi joined the attack immediately after lunch and in his third over, removed the obdurate opener Dean Elgar for 34. The South African batsman came down the track and was beaten and stumped by Adam Wheater to leave Somerset 108 for 3.

Just 4 runs later, Porter accounted for the free-scoring James Hildreth who was caught by Ravi Bopara at fine leg for 36 and Essex were to claim another victim when Harmer breached the defence of Steven Davies who was bowled for 12.

Now 130 for 5, Somerset slipped further into trouble with the loss of Lewis Gregory. Neil Wagner had persisted with leg side line of attack against the batsman and was rewarded when Gregory played the ball into the safe hands of Harmer at short fine leg having scored 3 to leave the home side now 143 for 6.

Peter Trego though continued to play with confidence and was quick to punish the looser delivery collecting five fours and a six in his boundary tally. He brought the total past 150 with a cover drive to the ropes when facing Harmer but the hosts were destined to lose another wicket shortly before the tea interval.

And it was Zaidi who completed a fine afternoon for his side when he had Roelof van der Merwe leg before for 7 as the batsman prodded forward.

Trego was just two runs short of his half-century at the tea interval whilst Zaidi could reflect on figures of 8-2-9-2 for his afternoon’s work.

Day One | Lunch Report:

Somerset, who won the toss, reached lunch on 95 for 2 with Ravi Bopara picking up both wickets along with the assistance of Alastair Cook. Dean Elgar is unbeaten on 30 and James Hildreth 28 not out.

Left-handers Trescothick and Elgar faced the new ball attack of Jamie Porter and Neil Wagner. It was the New Zealand Test bowler that proved the more expensive with both batsmen finding the ropes, including successive boundaries for Elgar.

Wagner was replaced after conceding 31 off his opening 5 overs when off spinner Simon Harmer was brought into the attack for the 12th over of the match.

However, it was Bopara who was to find the breakthrough. Taking over from Porter, whose tidy 8 overs cost just 13 runs, the all-rounder was to check the home side’s progress with two in 10 deliveries.

The Somerset openers had posted 52 from 18.5 overs when Bopara struck in his fourth over. He Somerset opening pair had been at the crease for an hour and three-quarters when Trescothick, having scored half the runs on the board, drove off an edge and Cook took a fine catch diving to his right at first slip.

The double act of Bopara and Cook then repeated their performance 2 runs later when Somerset skipper Tom Abell, on 1, edged the bowler into the hands of Cook.

Ryan ten Doeschate rotated his attack with Harmer, who had two leg before appeals turned down, switching to the River End to replace Bopara.

Wagner was re-introduced into the attack but continued to prove costly. By the interval, his 8 overs had yielded 55 runs. Porter has figures of 8-4-13-0 and Harmer 10-5-11-0.

Varun Chopra and Aaron Beard were omitted from the 13-man squad named ahead of the match Alastair Cook and Ashar Zaidi both making their first Championship appearances of the season.

 

ECB Clubmark

Posted on Thursday 6 April 2017


 
Clubmark is an accreditation scheme for cricket clubs which shows that a club is sustainable, well run and provides the right environment for its members. Clubmark accreditation also means your club is recognised as a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages, as well as assuring parents and carers that they are choosing the right option for their young people.

Clubmark remains a key component of helping clubs raise standards in the recreational game and is used by many leagues as an entry requirement and the Home Office as part of requirements for the managed migration process.

For this season (2024), there is a reduced number of criteria and site visits are no longer mandatory for current accredited clubs, however, clubs may still get a visit from a Club Support Officer as part of the process. To ensure clubs are able to re-accredit in 2024, documentary evidence will need to be uploaded to the Clubmark portal by 30 April.

The club’s submission and your Safe Hands Management System profile will then be reviewed. Where all criteria have been met ECB will confirm accreditation, however, if there is some remediation to be undertaken Clubs will be given a short extension to complete this.

A key element of the scheme is compliance with the Safe Hands Management System. It is important that individuals within regulated roles are vetted before they take up a role. If that action is completed then when an individual is added to the system the vetting checks will then match up. Another key reminder is to ensure that an ECB DBS is held.

Click the link below to access the portal:


 

Click the link below to download a guide that gives more details of the 2024 scheme together with some best practice tips:


 
If you have any questions on any of the above or about the ECB Clubmark scheme in general, please contact our club support team in the first instance:

For general Clubmark enquiries, please contact;

Graham Jelley – Cricket Development Manager
[email protected]

Graham Pryke – Cricket Development Manager
[email protected]

Arfan Akram – Head of Player Liaison (East London Strategic Lead)
[email protected]

Ben Wallis – Head of Community Network
[email protected]

Steve Dolben – East London Cricket Development Manager
[email protected]

Match Report | Essex v Durham MCCU

Posted on Tuesday 4 April 2017

Essex v Durham MCCU | 3-Day Friendly Match (First Class) | Cloudfm County Ground

Essex team | Nick Browne, Varun Chopra, Tom Westley, Dan Lawrence, Ravi Bopara, Adam Wheater +, Ryan ten Doeschate*, Simon Harmer, Aaron Beard, Matt Dixon, Jamie Porter.

Durham MCCU team | Will Fraine, Jack Clark, Ed Pollock, Jason Marshall, James McCollum, Joe Cooke*, Sebastian Stewart-Taylor +, Darrel Williams, Abhi Singh, Freddy Simon, Xavier Owen.

Umpires | Neil Bainton & Chris Watts

Toss | Essex won, who elected to bat first

Day Three | Close of Play Report

Essex and Durham MCCU drew their three-day friendly at The Cloudfm County Ground after the students had reached 124 for 2 in pursuit of a 503 runs for victory.

Essex batted throughout the morning session adding 153 runs for the loss of two wickets with Ravi Bopara hitting 75, Ryan ten Doeschate an unbeaten 47 and Dan Lawrence 43 as the chief contributors to a total of 356 for 5 declared.

Nick Browne had retired out overnight having scored 113 on day two allowing a number of his colleagues time in the middle ahead of the opening Specsavers County Championship match of the season with Lancashire at Chelmsford starting on Friday.

Bopara used his feet to good effect and timed the ball well to post his half-century from 69 balls that included nine boundaries and when he was caught driving the ball to long-off, he had faced 93 balls and struck one 6 and ten fours.

Skipper ten Doeschate provided the most entertaining contribution with 2 sixes and 3 fours during his hour in the middle before Essex declared on 356 for 5.

Left with two sessions to face, the visitors made a steady start seeing off the new ball pair of Jamie Porter and Aaron Beard before first change Matt Dixon gained the breakthrough in the 19th over with the total on 44.

Will Fraine, having scored a vigilant 19, drove at a ball that took the edge and was caught by Browne at third slip. In his next over and three runs later, Dixon struck again, this time when he claimed the other opener Jack Clark.

Clark was on 18 when he went on the back foot facing Dixon and drove the ball to substitute fielder Callum Taylor who was temporarily deputising for Varun Chopra.

By tea, Durham MCCU were 67 for 32 having faced 30 overs but both Ed Pollock and Jason Marshall played with confidence to bat comfortably through a further 21 overs before the teams shook hands on the draw two overs after the final hour had commenced.

Dixon ended with figures of 8-2-22-2.

Essex start their County Championship campaign with a visit from Lancashire starting on Friday.

Day Three | Tea Report

Durham MCCU arrived at tea having scored 67 for 2 having initially been set a 503 run victory target.

Essex declared their second innings at lunch on 356 for 4 but the home side’s attack had to be patient before getting the breakthrough. The students opening pair of Will Fraine and Jack Clark batted vigilantly and at one stage, faced 19 balls before adding to the total.

It was in the 19 over when Matt Dixon ended their resistance after an hour and three-quarters when he encouraged Fraine a delivery outside off, found the edge and the ball was caught by Nick Browne at third slip.

Fraine had scored 19 of the 44 runs on the board and three runs later and in his next over, Dixon was again successful when he accounted for Clark.

The batsman, on 18, went on the back foot and drove the ball to cover where substitute fielder Callum Taylor, deputising for Varun Chopra, took the catch.  

Ed Pollock and Jason Marshall comfortably dealt with the nine overs before tea with the latter pulling a delivery from Jamie Porter over the ropes at deep mid-wicket.   

Pollock had scored five and Marshall was 19 not out at the interval whilst Dixon had the impressive figures of 5-2-5-2 at the interval.

Day Three | Lunch Report

Ravi Bopara struck 75 as Essex reached 356 for 5 at lunch in their three-day first-class friendly with Durham MCCU at The Cloudfm County Ground.

Nick Browne retired out on his overnight score of 113 and Bopara and Dan Lawrence posted 72 in 12 overs before Lawrence drove spinner Abhi Singh to Joe Cooke at mid-off to bring an end to his innings of 43 that included 6 fours in his 62-ball innings.

Bopara took full advantage of the opportunity to spend time in the middle ahead of Friday’s opening Specsavers County Championship fixture with Lancashire timing the ball sweetly and producing a series of fine drives.

His half-century arrived from 69 balls and included nine fours and two deliveries after reaching the milestone, he celebrated by launching a ball from Singh over the boundary.

Together with Ryan ten Doeschate, 95 were added in 14 overs until Bopara drove Darrel Williams to long-off to conclude to his 93 ball knock that included one 6 and 10 fours.

Captain ten Doeschate was 47 not out and Simon Harmer had seven when the lunch interval arrived with Essex 502 runs ahead.

Essex declared their second innings at lunch with two sessions of play remaining.

Day Two | Close of Play Report

A century by Nick Browne gave Essex an overall lead of 349 runs as they reached the end of the second day’s play at The Cloudfm County Ground, Essex on 203 for 2 in the second innings against Durham MCCU.

Browne batted faultlessly reaching his hundred from 115 deliveries and displaying a number of powerful well-timed drives on both sides of the wicket in a well-crafted effort as he dictated the bowling. He brought his score into three figures with a straight driven off-drive that raced to the boundary, his 19th four at that stage.

Essex had enjoyed a first innings lead 146 after bowling out their opponents for 187 and openers Browne and Varun Chopra extended that advantage by 61 runs before Freddy Simon trapped Chopra in front of his stumps for 30.

Tom Westley then joined Browne in a lively stand worth 70 in 14 overs before Westley, having faced 43 balls and struck six fours, was caught at cover off Darrel Williams for 34.

Browne though soldiered on finding another solid partner in Dan Lawrence as the duo added an unbeaten 72 runs for the third wicket with the latter unbeaten on 25 and Browne 113 not out at the close of play.

Earlier Jamie Porter returned 4 for 35 as the visitors rallied after being 101 for 7. An 8th wicket partnership of 84 between Abhi Singh and Darrel Williams frustrated the home side for more than 2 and a quarter hours and it was off-spinner Simon Harmer that eventually broke the pair’s resistance.

He had Singh caught at mid-off by Porter for 44 to end an entertaining knock that included 6 boundaries and in the same over, enticed Williams to edge a ball into the hands of Chopra at first to end his patient innings of 32 runs.

Porter had previously added the wickets of Ed Pollock (38) and Joe McCollum (7) to his overnight haul with the dismissal of the batsman owing much to a magnificent one-handed catch by Westley who moved sharply to his right at second slip to take the chance.

Westley was also to grab two more catches, one off Matt Dixon when Joe Cooke was caught for 7 whilst his third catch was also a contender for catch of the match. Sebastian Stewart-Taylor drove a ball when facing Aaron Beard and the ball flew off the edge and Westley took a magnificent left-handed catch.

The final wicket of the innings fell to Ravi Bopara who was able to record his 200th First Class wicket for Essex when Harmer caught Simon.

Day Two | Tea Report 

Essex held an overall lead of 179 runs with all ten second innings wickets intact at Tea after they dismissed Durham MCCU for 187 at The Cloudfm County Ground before reaching 33 without loss in their second innings.

Commencing the post-lunch session on 138 for 7, the students were well served by an eight wicket partnership worth 84 between Darel Williams and Abhi Singh which represented the highest stand of the match so far.

The pair batted together for a total of 2 and a quarter hours before off-spinner Simon Harmer got the breakthrough with the first ball of a new spell.

Singh, who had been dropped on 21 by Adam Wheater off the bowling of Aaron Beard when the score was 154, drove Harmer to Jamie Porter at mid-off to end his innings of 44 runs made from 107 balls that included 6 boundaries.

Now 185 for 8, the ninth wicket fell on the same score when Harmer struck with the final ball in the same over. This time, the victim was Williams who edged to Varun Chopra at first slip and departed for 32 having batted for almost three hours.

Ravi Bopara ended the innings two runs and two overs later when he claimed his 200th wicket for Essex by having Freddy Simon caught by Harmer at third slip.

Porter finished with 4 for 35, Harmer 2 for 19, Matt Dixon 2 for 30 and Bopara 1 for 20.

Essex began their second innings with 11 overs remaining until tea during which time Chopra scored 12 and Nick Browne 20.

Day Two | Lunch Report

Tom Westley took three catches at second slip as Durham MCCU lost four wickets in the morning session to reach lunch on 138 for 7, still trailing Essex by 195 runs on first innings at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The visitors started the day on 66 for 3 and had added just 12 runs when Jamie Porter claimed the first wicket of the session. With the first ball of his second over of the morning, the pace man trapped James McCollum, who had made 7, in front of his stumps.

The totalled advanced to 91 when Westley decided to take a hand in proceedings. Ed Pollock, who had had batted attractively to strike five boundaries in his 38, drove at Porter and the ball flew off an edge and Westley moved to his right from second slip to take a superb one-handed catch.

Three balls and two runs later, Westley held onto a catch off the bowling of Matt Dixon to account for Joe Cooke for 7.

The students brought their score into three figures when Sebastian Stewart-Taylor steered a delivery from Ravi Bopara to the boundary but then Westley completed his hat-trick of catches when holding onto a sharp catch one-handed to send Stewart-Taylor (8) back to the Pavilion that gave Aaron Beard his first wicket of the innings.

Darrel Williams and Abhi Singh then batted sensibly for an unbroken partnership worth 37 runs to see the University through to lunch. Williams is19 not out and Singh has 16 to his name whilst Porter has so far taken 4 for 31 and Dixon 2 for 24.

Day One | Close of Play Report

Adam Wheater launched the First Class season for Essex with a century, before the home side were bowled out for 333 on the opening day of the three-day First Class MCC University fixture against Durham MCCU at The Cloudfm County Ground.

In response, the Students had reached 66 for 3 at the close with two wickets for Jamie Porter and one for Matt Dixon.

The ever-resourceful Wheater played with confidence from the start of his innings,  picking off the loose deliveries with impressive ease and driving effectively on both sides of the wicket. He reached his fifty from 65 balls with the seventh four of his innings having also pulled a delivery from medium-pacer Joe Cooke over the rope at deep mid-wicket.

Wheater’s next 50 took a further 62 balls during which time he added five more fours and he finally departed for 102 when he was caught at point off pace bowler Freddy Simon.

During his knock, he had figured in two half-century partnerships, the first worth 54 with Simon Harmer, who scored 14, and the next with Aaron Beard who was to go on and complete a maiden half-century.

Essex won the toss but lost their first two wickets within the opening 7 overs of the day. Varun Chopra had made 16 of the 21 runs on the board when he edged to second slip.

Then, and without addition, Tom Westley was dismissed for a duck when he moved in front of his stumps and was adjudged leg before wicket.

Next to go was Dan Lawrence for 16 but opener Nick Browne continued to play  with assurance to arrive at his fifty from 69 balls, 44 of those runs coming in boundaries.

He had moved onto 66 when he drove a catch to mid-off to leave Essex 126 for 4.

Wheater then took on the responsibility of improving the situation, which he did so effectively. He added 41 with Ravi Bopara before the latter departed for a patient 39. When Wheater was finally dismissed to become the 8th wicket to fall, he had carried the Essex total onto 293.

Jamie Porter fell for a single, Dixon went for 4 leaving Beard unbeaten on 58, his fifty having come from 63 balls with 8 boundaries.

Beard then took the new ball with Jamie Porter and it was the latter who gained his first wicket of the new season when he found the edge to have Jack Clark  caught by keeper Wheater for a duck with just one run on the board.

Porter then doubled his tally when Will Fraine, having scored 23 out of the 32 runs on the board, was beaten by a delivery that moved away and was bowled.

Dixon replaced Beard and in his third over, accounted for Jason Marshall  for 6 when the batsman walked in front of his stumps.

At the close with the students trailing by 267 runs, Ed Pollock was 25 not out whilst James McCollum was unbeaten on 6.

Porter has taken 2 for 18 from 6 overs and Dixon 1 for 19 from 4 overs.

 

Day One | Tea Report

A century for Adam Wheater has been the feature of the Essex innings as the home side reached 299 for 8 at tea on the opening day of the three-day First Class friendly with Durham MCCU at The Cloudfm County Ground. Aaron Beard remains unbeaten on 29 at the break and Jamie Porter has yet to get off the mark.

Wheater played with his usual positive approach to collect 12 boundaries and a six during his innings that spanned 130 deliveries and brought up his hundred with a cut  that raced to the boundary.

However, three balls later and with his score on 102, he drove outside off stump and  was caught by Joe Cooke at point to give pace bowler Freddy Simon a second wicket.

Essex had resumed on 144 for 4 after lunch  with Ravi Bopara and Wheater at the crease. Bopara  produced a splendid cover drive to bring up the 150  but with the score on 167,  he came stepped out of his crease when facing spinner Abhi Singh and was stumped for 39.

Ryan ten Doeschate joined Wheater  but the skipper was caught  in the covers having scored 5 to leave his side 184-6.

New signing, Simon Harmer came to the crease  and the South African got off the mark immediately with a boundary. He and Wheater shared a 54 runs partnership spanning 12 overs before Harmer, on 14, picked out deep extra cover.

Wheater though continued to play with aggression and nimble footwork that allowed hi  to execute a fluent array of drives on his way to his deserved century. He was later dismissed in the over before tea.

 

Day One | Lunch Report

Ravi Bopara was unbeaten on 32 and Adam Wheater was 12 not out as Essex reached lunch on 144 for 4 on the opening day of the First Class friendly with Durham MCCU at The Cloudfm County Ground.

The home side won the toss but lost the first two wickets with the score on 21. Varun Chopra  had got the scoreboard moving taking a single from the  4th ball of the day  and in the next over, collected a couple of boundaries when facing Freddy Simon.

However, his opening partnership with Nick Browne was brought to a close when he drove at a delivery from Xavier Owen and was caught at second slip for 16 by Will Fraine.

Tom Westley, lasted three balls when he was pinned in front of his stumps by Owen having failed to score. That brought Dan Lawrence to the crease and both he and Browne soon collected boundaries on either side of the wicket and another boundary by Lawrence took the total past 50.

The duo had taken their stand to 39 in 9 overs when Lawrence was caught at mid-wicket off  the bowling of Joe Cooke for 16.

Browne continued to make progress and brought up his half-century having faced 69 balls of which 11 reached the boundary. He and Ravi Bopara looked increasingly comfortable as a half-century partnership was reached  but having taken their stand to 66 in 15 overs, spinner Abhi Singh ended their alliance when he encouraged Browne to drive to mid-off .

Browne had faced 89 balls and collected 12 fours and with Essex now 126-4, Adam Wheater joined Bopara through the remaining 7 overs until lunch.

Wheater got off the mark when he pulled a delivery from Cooke over the ropes at mid-wicket whilst Bopara played watchfully having batted for almost an hour and a quarter and gathered 3 fours.

 

 

Darts

Posted on Wednesday 11 January 2017

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Love The Darts? An Evening of Darts will take place in our impressive new On-Pitch Marquee on Tuesday 10 October 2017. The exhibition will host of the sporting greats with 16-time World Champion, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor now set to take centre-stage on the evening. Taylor will be joined by Sky Sports’s & former legend of the game, Wayne Mardle.

This is a landmark evening for the Club and for Chelmsford itself, with the area having the opportunity to see some of professional Darts’ top stars up close and personal. The night will also be hosted by the PDC’s very own John McDonald who will MC the event and guide guests through the evening.

Get a taste of the Alexandra Palace experience at The Cloudfm County Ground in October with individual places or tables of 10 available now. Demand is already high for this exciting evening of arrow so make sure you don’t miss out!

The price includes:

Unlimited Selected Beer, Cider & Soft Drinks

Three-Course Meal

Table Service Throughout the Night

To book your place, contact the Commercial Department – 01245 254120 | [email protected].

Price: Standard tables £125 +VAT per person | Premium tables – SOLD OUT

The Club would like to thank D&A Media, Fenwick, Greene King, Scrutton Bland and Woodland Group for their support with the 2017 On-Pitch Marquee events.