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Warwickshire v Essex
Specsavers County Championship
Tuesday 10 September – Friday 13 September
Edgbaston

Warwickshire Team: Will Rhodes, Dominic Sibley, Liam Banks, Sam Hain, Matthew Lamb, Michael Burgess (wk), Ethan Brookes, Henry Brookes, Jeetan Patel (c), Oliver Hannon-Dalby, George Garrett

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

Toss: Uncontested, Essex elected to bowl

Umpires: Nicholas Cook & David Millns

Result: Match Drawn

Day Four: Close of Play Report

Tom Westley and Alastair Cook batted superbly posting a second-wicket partnership of 157 that eased Essex to a draw in their County Championship match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston after the visitors had faced possible defeat earlier in the day.

The visitors ended on 158-2 with Westley scoring 97 to add to his 141 earlier in the match whilst his colleague and the former England captain made an unbeaten 57 in trademark deliberate diligent fashion.

They started their stand before lunch on the final day after Essex had lost Nick Browne without a run on the board when they followed-on still trailing by 193 runs with a minimum of 76 overs to be faced and the threat of Jeetan Patel.

The off-spinner had proved destroyer-in-chief when returning 6 for 73 as Essex were bowled out for 324 in their first innings but Cook and Westley negated his challenge with their uncomplicated approach as they both became an increasingly commanding presence at the crease.

They rarely offered the home attack any encouragement being commendably selective in shot-selection as they made sedate progress and having the gratification of seeing their contributions ease their side into the calm waters that had appeared somewhat potentially turbulent in the last hour on Day Three and this morning.

Cook was the first to arrive at his 50 having faced 98 balls whilst Westley half-century spanned 101 balls and both were completed with the batsman’s seventh boundary.

From there on, Cook was content to become as docile as the pitch whilst Westley took on the role of runs accumulator. He was in sight of his second century of the match when he drove Matt Lamb to Patel and departed for 97.

At the start of the day, Essex had resumed on 278-6 and still needed 90 runs to avert the follow-on but the loss of Adam Wheater and Simon Harmer in the space of three Patel deliveries heaped the pressure on the visitors as they slipped to 288-8.

That became 298-8 and with one over left to complete bonus points. Westley took a single from the third ball but Aaron Beard was unable to find a way through the field to notch the third batting point.

The return of Henry Brookes six overs later was to account for Westley when the batsman shouldered arms and lost his off stump having batted for 6 and a quarter-hours.

Four runs later, Beard was caught in the slip cordon to give Patel his sixth wicket and start a nervy period for the visitors when they followed-on. However, the redoubtable Cook and Westley ensured that Essex would emerge with dignity.

As a result of Somerset’s win against Yorkshire, the West Country side have now regained top-spot in Division One with an 8-points lead over nearest pursuers Essex.

Both counties now have just two matches each to play and Ryan ten Doeschate’s men will be hoping that they can beat Surrey at The Cloudfm Ground next week whilst hoping that Hampshire can avoid defeat to Somerset at The Ageas Bowl before the top-two in the table meet in the final round of matches.

Day Four: Tea Report

Alastair Cook and Tom Westley composed an unbroken century partnership during which both posted half-centuries to take Essex to the cusp of safety and the draw in their match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

With one session left of play, the visitors reached the tea interval on 117 for 1 with Cook unbeaten on 52* and Westley 62 not out with the county still trailing by 76 runs with a minimum of 34 overs to be bowled.

The two Essex batsmen naturally adopted a cautious approach after lunch with their diligence allowing them to frustrate Warwickshire’s hopes of removing their opponents for a second time in the match, after they had enforced the follow-on when Essex were dismissed for 324 in their first innings.

But Cook and Westley both played excellent and carefully-crafted innings and were dedicated to their team’s aspirations of forcing a stalemate.

They matched scores on a flat pitch with Cook arriving at his 7th Championship half-century of the campaign when he took successive fours against Oliver Hannon-Dalby taking his tally of boundary counts to seven having faced 98 balls at that time.

It also brought up a century stand in 34 overs and later in the same over, Westley too arrived at his half-century when gliding a ball down to the third man boundary. That was his seventh four of a 101-ball innings, another splendid effort to add to his earlier score of 141 that had held the first innings together.

Cook, yet to record a Championship century against Warwickshire, has so far faced 123 deliveries whilst Westley has received 126 balls this time around to add to the 266 in his first visit to the middle.

Day Four: Lunch Report

With two sessions remaining for play, Essex are battling to hold out for draw in their County Championship clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston as they reached lunch on 26-1 in their second innings having followed-on.

Spinner Jeetan Patel returned 6 for 73 as Essex were bowled out for 324 in their first innings to leave left them with a deficit of 193 and they immediately lost Nick Browne when they batted again.

Facing the fourth ball of the second innings, the left-hander was caught at third slip by Liam Banks off George Garrett without a run on the board but Alastair Cook and Tom Westley successfully negotiated the remaining overs through to the break.

Cook will resume on 11 and Westley on 13.

Essex had started the day on 278-6 in their first innings with Westley 123 not out but Adam Wheater was caught at short leg off Patel for 4 to the first ball of the fifth over with just 10 more runs added.

And two deliveries later, Simon Harmer was bowled for a duck to give Patel his fifth wicket. At the start of the last available over for bonus points, Essex needed 2 runs for their third batting point and Westley, now on 129, took a single from the third ball sent down by Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

But Aaron Beard was unable to pierce the field from the remaining three deliveries as Essex concentrated on their quest to avert the follow-on but with the total on 320 and 48 runs still needed, Westley’s fine effort ended disappointingly.

With his score on 141 and having batted for 6 and a quarter-hours, the Essex number 3 misjudged the line when facing Henry Brookes, shouldered arms and was bowled.

Beard scored 20 before he was caught at gully off Patel leaving Essex with 76 overs to negotiate in the game.

Day Three: Match Highlights

Day Three Reaction: Tom Westley

Day Three: Close of Play Report

Tom Westley recorded his first century of the summer as Essex reached the close of the third day on 278-6 in their match with Warwickshire at Edgbaston, still trailing by 239 runs on first innings.

Westley was 123 not out when bad light brought a premature close with 9 overs still remaining. So far, he has batted for 5 and a quarter-hours and faced 234 balls with 16 boundaries.

The 30-year-old underpinned the visitor’s efforts to hunt down Warwickshire’s formidable 517 and he received solid support from opener Nick Browne who scored 65 as the pair put on 106 for the third wicket before being parted.

Although Dan Lawrence joined Westley to add a further 75 runs, the departure of the former to George Garrett for 28 started a decline in fortunes for the visitors as they slumped from 233-3 to 271-6 and still 97 runs from averting the follow-on.

Ravi Bopara was bowled through the gate by Patel for 11 and then seven balls later and with Ryan ten Doeschate still to get off the mark, the Essex captain was trapped in front of his stumps.

Westley, who was recording his 19th first-class century for the county, grafted responsibly as he reached his hundred with the 13th boundary of his innings that had spanned 197 balls at that stage.

He played with authority and composure throughout showing classic timing to pierce the field on a docile pitch from which only spinner Jeetan Patel found any assistance – and then only occasional turn.

With a three-figure score beckoning, Westley wasted little time in completing the milestone, collecting successive fours from Oliver Hannon-Dalby before adding another in the bowler’s next over taking his score to 102.

Essex had lost just one wicket in each of the first two sessions, with nightwatchman Sam Cook departing early in the day for 4 whilst opener Nick Browne fell an hour into the post-lunch session but only after playing with typical resilience.

The left-hander batted for 5 minutes short of four hours for his 65 during which he and Westley completed a century stand in 239 balls as both employed a necessarily cautious approach.

It was Patel who finally brought about Browne’s downfall when he struck the pad to gain the lbw verdict and collect the first of his three wickets on a day when he returned the excellent figures of 37-13-60-3.

With the visitors apparently serenely placed on 205 for 3 at tea, the last session of the day was to bring a series of problems for Essex leaving Westley to supervise the survival when play resumes in the morning with the aim of avoiding the follow-on and also finding the next 22 runs to add a third batting point to their tally.

Adam Wheater will join Westley in the morning having scored a single before play was called off prematurely.

Day Three: Tea Report

Tom Westley arrived at tea on 79 not out accompanied by Dan Lawrence with 19 as Essex reached the interval on 205-3 from 78 overs.

The pair have so far added 47 runs for the fourth wicket after the departure of Nick Browne an hour into the post-lunch session.

The left-hander had completed his 152-ball half-century, which included 8 boundaries, in the first over after lunch. Then, after batting for five minutes short of four hours, he pushed forward to spinner Jeetan Patel and was leg before wicket having scored 65.

He and Westley had just posted a vigilant century partnership spanning 239 balls that arrived with a boundary by Browne behind square off the bowling of Patel.

But the bowler then breached Browne’s defences with a flighted delivery to end the stand of 106 in 41 overs.

By then, Westley had collected his third Championship half-century of the summer, this one from 90 balls and completed with the sixth four of his innings when he executed a fine drive off the bowling of Henry Brookes.

With the wily Patel posing the most serious threat, Westley showed exemplary application as he grafted for his runs whilst also quick to pick off the looser delivery to sustain Essex who still trail by 312 runs.

Day Three: Lunch Report

Nick Browne and Tom Westley put together an unbroken partnership worth 68 runs for the second wicket to carry Essex to a lunchtime score of 120 for 2 on the third day of their County Championship clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Browne was 49* at the interval and Westley 37* as the pair displayed sound technique and application to ensure they eschewed their possible demise.

Night-watchman Sam Cook lasted a little more than 5 overs after the visitors resumed on 31 for 1 before he was caught at second slip for 4 when facing Oliver Hannon-Dalby.

Browne and Westley though soon displayed their disciplined approach as the pace bowlers kept the ball up to the batsmen, but as the ball became older and softer, life became easier for the batting side.

Both Browne and Westley executed a number of regal drives as they hit the ball cleanly with well-timed strokes to give foundation to the Essex first innings.

They also dealt with the spin threat of Jeetan Patel, who varied his flight, to lay the foundations for what is hoped to be a sizeable haul of batting points, a now realistic target after Warwickshire’s first innings had closed on 517 yesterday evening.

At the interval, Browne had faced 151 balls that included 8 fours whilst Westley’s contribution spanned 73 balls with four fours in their 25 overs together at the crease thus far.

Essex still trail by 397 runs.

Day Two: Match Highlights

Day Two Reaction: Anthony McGrath

Day Two: Close of Play Report

Simon Harmer bagged his 8th five-wicket haul as Warwickshire were finally dismissed for 517 before Essex lost Alastair Cook shortly before they closed on 31 for 1 with Nick Browne 16 not out.

The visitors had been left to face 14 overs but in the penultimate over with his score on 7, Cook pushed at a ball from spinner Jeetan Patel and was snapped up by Dom Sibley at second slip.

Sam Cook came in as night-watchman and will resume in the morning looking to get off the mark.

Off-spinner Harmer returned figures of 6 for 143 from his marathon stint that saw him send down 59.5 overs of which 15 were maidens. That took his tally of Championship wickets to 71 for the campaign as Essex collected two bowling bonus points after conceding their second-highest total of the summer.

The indefatigable Harmer toiled away to gain his rewards as the visitors suffered their second day of toil on a flat Edgbaston pitch.

The standout innings for the home side was played by 23-year-old right-hander Matthew Lamb who completed a maiden first-class century on his way to a final contribution of 173 after displaying a fine technique in only his 15th first-class match.

He did receive one slice of good fortune early into the post-lunch session soon after he had completed a 211-ball century. With the total on 367, he left his crease to return to the pavilion under the misapprehension he had been caught by Alastair Cook at slip. However, the fielder had spilled the chance but Harmer quickly grabbed the ball and threw down the stumps.

After initially raising his finger, the umpire then changed his mind and the batsman was recalled and took full advantage exhibiting a host of well-timed drives and cuts.

Earlier in the day, Essex took three wickets before the cut-off was reached for bowling points with Jamie Porter dismissing Sam Hain for 82 and Michael Burgess for 5, the latter’s dismissal owing much to a wonderful diving catch low down at second slip by the irrepressible Harmer.

Then predatory fielder turned successful bowler when Harmer claimed the first of his three wickets in the day having debutant Ethan Brookes caught in the leg trap for a duck paving the way for older brother Henry to join Lamb.

They added 105 runs for the seventh wicket before the inimitable Harmer showed his fielding talent once again this time when throwing down the wicket as Brookes (46) was left stranded after a mix-up with his partner.

Lamb though soldiered on with unwavering application and effectiveness adding a further 66 with Patel for the eighth wicket before he drove a ball from Ravi Bopara into the hands of mid-wicket where that man Harmer was stationed. The batsman had frustrated Essex for 7 hours facing 371 deliveries and collecting 100 of his runs in boundaries.

Although Oliver Hannon-Dalby quickly fell leg before to Harmer, the last pair took Warwickshire onto 517 with a 46 runs stand before George Garrett joined the list of Harmer conquests when stumped for 24 leaving Warwickshire skipper Patel 51 not out and Essex with an hour to face before the close of a demanding day.

Day Two: Tea Report

Warwickshire added 108 runs in the afternoon session whilst losing just one wicket after lunch to reach the tea interval on 468 for 7 with Matthew Lamb unbeaten on 173 and Jeetan Patel 27 not out.

The only wicket to fall was that of Henry Brookes as the home side enjoyed their run-fest against a side who conceded their highest score since the opening game of the season when Essex met Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

However, there was a highly controversial moment early into the post-lunch session when Lamb, on 110 out of 367, was run out after Alastair Cook had spilled a chance at slip, only for Simon Harmer to throw down the stumps.

Lamb was recalled though after it was agreed that he had only left his crease under the misapprehension of believing he had been caught.

The 23 year-old flourished afterwards, building on his maiden first-class century to reach a 312-ball 150.

Skipper Ryan ten Doeschate consistently rotated his attacking options in vain as the league leaders tried unsuccessfully to find some spirited inspiration.

It was to prove an arduous afternoon for Essex before that man Harmer, finally ended a productive partnership for the seventh wicket worth 105.

On this occasion, the prolific off-spinner proved ace fielder when he capitalised on a misunderstanding between Lamb and Henry Brookes and threw the stumps down at the striker’s end from his mid-wicket position to leave the latter stranded.

That brought to a close a stand lasting 137 minutes that left the visitors increasingly frustrated and took their opponents onto 402 with outgoing batsman Brookes just four runs short of his half-century.

Lamb though was joined by Jeetan Patel as the duo became the fifth combination to post a partnership in excess of 50 during the Warwickshire innings which had seen Harmer send down 54 overs by tea.

Day Two: Lunch Report

Wickets for Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer afforded Essex another bowling point before Warwickshire progressed to a lunch total of 360 for 6 on the second morning of the County Championship clash at Edgbaston. Matthew Lamb posted an unbeaten maiden first-class century.

Porter struck twice before Harmer added another to his three-wicket haul from yesterday as the home side lost a trio of wickets in 23 balls whilst adding just 7 runs before Lamb and Henry Brookes swung the balance back in favour of the bat.

Twenty-one runs had been added to the overnight score in 38 balls when Porter removed Sam Hain. The batsman had reached 82 when he reached outside off and edged a catch to Dan Lawrence in the gully.

Six balls later, Porter struck again although he was indebted to Harmer who produced a magnificent one-handed catch diving to his left at second slip to remove Michael Burgess for five.

Harmer then turned from successful fielder to triumphant bowler when his classic off-spinner’s delivery proved too much for debutant Ethan Brookes who turned the ball into the waiting hands of Ravi Bopara at leg slip.

Porter was eventually withdrawn from the attack after sending down 6 overs in the morning session at a personal cost of 16 runs having taken his tally of Championship wickets to 41 for the season.

By the completion of 110 overs for available bonus points, the hosts were 320 for 6 and Lamb continued to display a superb technique, producing a fluent array of drives on both sides of the wicket as he teamed up with Henry Brookes in an effective partnership to diffuse the visitors hopes of further wickets.

Having just reached his century, Lamb was “caught” at slip by Alastair Cook but bowler Ravi Bopara had overstepped the crease allowing the 23 year-old batsman to survive.

Brookes supported his partner diligently and by lunch, the duo had posted an unbeaten 63 run partnership spanning 18 overs. Lamb reached his landmark century having faced 211 balls with the assistance of 15 boundaries and he will resume after lunch on 106 with Brookes 33 not out.

Day One: Match Highlights

Day One: Close of Play Report

Despite three wickets from Simon Harmer, Essex were made to toil on the opening day of their County Championship clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston where the home side reached the close on 269-3.

After an uncontested toss, the hosts made serene progress to thwart the league leaders hopes with unbeaten half-centuries from Sam Hain and Matthew Lamb, whilst Dom Sibley also posted a fifty.

Finding reverse swing, the Essex pace attack went unrewarded despite beating the bat but without crucially finding the edge and it was the prolific Harmer that was left to unpick the Warwickshire batting.

After a brief four overs spell, he returned to send down 28 overs without change only making way when the second new ball was taken with the score on 224-3. At that juncture, he had figures of 32-10-62-3 taking his tally of Championship wickets onto 68 for the summer.

Will Rhodes and Sibley had composed a partnership of 87 in 111 minutes before Harmer got the breakthrough shortly before lunch when Rhodes, on 38, pushed forward and edged a catch to Adam Wheater.

And five balls later and on the stroke of the interval, the off-spinner struck again when Liam Banks turned a ball into the hands of Ravi Bopara at leg slip to depart for a duck as Warwickshire ended the first session on 91 for 2 with Sibley.

The patient Sibley, on 35 at Lunch, moved sedately to his eighth half-century of the campaign and another single saw him complete 1,000 Championship runs for the season.

But his innings came to an end when he tried to drive through mid-on and gave Harmer a return catch to leave the home side 140-3 and their opponents with the first bonus point.

However, Hain and Lamb batted with admirable temperament and composure to prosper. At Tea, the total had advanced to 171-3 and the pair continued to produce a fluent array of drives against a luckless attack for whom the seamers bowled well.

Hain and Lamb completed a century partnership spanning 213 balls during which Hain completed a 132-ball fifty whilst Lamb faced 110 balls before arriving at the landmark with both striking 8 boundaries.

The second new ball was taken with the home side on 224-3, but bat continued to dictate. Harmer was recalled into the attack after another 22 runs were added but he was unable to work his magic further as Hain and Lamb batted confidently combining for an unbroken stand worth 129 in 164 minutes to ensure Warwickshire ended the first day with bragging rights.

Hain will resume on 77 and Lamb on 69 whilst Harmer ended the day with figures of 36-11-67-3.

Day One: Tea Report

Simon Harmer claimed the one wicket to fall in the afternoon session as Warwickshire added 80 runs to reach the Tea interval on 171-3 with Sam Hain unbeaten on 39 and Matthew Lamb 14 not out.

Dom Sibley, who has enjoyed such a successful season, started the post-lunch session with 35 runs to his name and his vigilant but effective approach saw him continue to frustrate the visiting attack.

Playing straight but driving cleanly, he moved onto his eighth Championship half-century of the season (three of which he turned into three-figure scores) having faced 139 balls that included 4 boundaries.

Together with the effective Hain, he added 51 in 22 vigilant overs before the effective Harmer broke their resistance.

Sibley had collected a further single to move to 51 which completed his 1,000 Championship runs for summer when he offered a return catch to Harmer as he attempted to play through mid-on.

That wicket gave the bowler his 68th wicket of the season in the competition and eleventh so far this summer against Warwickshire after his match figures of 8 for 143 against them at Chelmsford in July.

Hain though continued batting with a sound technique that brought meaningful resistance whilst Lamb looked increasingly more settled after a nervous start against an attack that beat the bat on occasions without finding the edge to gain reward.

At Tea, Harmer’s figures were 24-9-34-3.

Day One: Lunch Report

Returning to red-ball action for the first time in three weeks, two wickets in 6 balls for Simon Harmer saw Warwickshire reach 91 for 2 at lunch on the opening day of their County Championship contest at Edgbaston with opener Dom Sibley 35 not out.

It was in the off-spinner’s second spell of the session that he made his mark. Having made 38 out of 87, Will Rhodes pushed forward and edged the ball to wicket-keeper Adam Wheater and four runs later, Liam Banks turned a delivery into the waiting hands of Ravi Bopara at leg slip. Those wickets gave Harmer lunch time figures of 6.2-2-10-2.

However, the league leaders could consider themselves unfortunate not to have split openers Rhodes and Sibley earlier as their pace attack passed the outside edge on a number of occasions.

Both new ball bowlers Jamie Porter and Sam Cook had the batsmen playing false strokes and then Aaron Beard also experienced misfortune as Rhodes played and missed.

Porter also found the edge when bringing Rhodes forward only for the ball to fall tantalisingly short of Alastair Cook at slip with the total on 29.

After an uncontested toss, unusually Porter and Cook both initially fell foul of umpires Nick Cook and David Millns with two of Porter’s first three deliveries of the match being called for front foot failings and he was then called once again by Millns in his next over.

Cook sent down two no balls in his third over.

The first boundaries of the match were claimed by Rhodes in the eighth over of the morning when facing Cook and by the end of the next over, Harmer was introduced into the attack. However, he was to produce one of his shortest spells of the Championship season being withdrawn from the attack after 4 overs that cost just 9 runs.

The 50 stand arrived in the 19th over, completed in style with a fine straight drive by Sibley off Beard but the return of Harmer twenty minutes before lunch was to galvanise the league leaders to leave them reflecting on a satisfactory first session.

After the euphoria of clinching a place at Finals Day for the first time since 2013, Essex’s focus now returns to red-ball cricket with a County Championship fixture against Warwickshire at Edgbaston starting on Tuesday 10 September.

Essex sit top of the County Championship table as things stand, and are now unbeaten in their last ten red-ball matches, a run which stretches back to April when the side lost to Hampshire at The Ageas Bowl.

Essex will rely on home-grown players for their final three Championship matches of the season, with the management deciding that the options available were not better than the players already at the Club.

Head Coach Anthony McGrath explained: “We got close with a couple of players, but then one got injured and the other then became unavailable.

“But our own players have all done well so we will stick with them; that’s what a squad is for and I’m more than confident going into the rest of the season with those guys.

“They have all proved they can achieve well for us and I think it’s really exciting because we are at the business end and we are utilising our own squad of players which is great.”

McGrath also expressed how pleased he was with the season so far, saying: “Here we are into September and we are still in two competitions with realistic chances of winning both and personally, that is really satisfying.

“But we have to flick the switch from white-ball to red-ball now because we’ve got two big weeks before Finals Day and we have to put that particular day on the back-burner for a while.

“Immediately coming up we have to focus on the match with Warwickshire. Neither side has played a red-ball game for a while so it’s all about who adapts best to the longer format.

“We need to play really well over the four days, we know that Warwickshire are a good team at home but as ever, it’s for us to ensure that we concentrate on our game, disciplines and skills and keep the pressure on other teams in the race for the title.”

Essex squad to face Warwickshire:

Ryan ten Doeschate (27) (Captain)
Ben Allison (65)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Nick Browne (10)
Varun Chopra (6)
Alastair Cook (26)
Sam Cook (16)
Simon Harmer (11)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)

Tickets: Essex Members can get free entry into Edgbaston for all 4 days of this fixture by presenting their valid Membership card.

Please note: Due to the mid-season switch of Specsavers County Championship fixtures, there will be an amended set-up for all members and supporters during the match at Edgbaston.

The Tom Dollery Lounge is unavailable for the duration of the match so Warwickshire and Essex Members will have full use of the facilities in the David Heath Suite and the Old Player’s Dining Room in the RES Wyatt Stand, as well as the Skyline East in the South Stand.

The lower tier seating of the South Stand will remain open as usual.

The Essex Eagles face Lancashire Lightning in the quarter-final of the Vitality Blast on Wednesday at the neutral setting of The Emirates Riverside, home to Durham County Cricket Club.

The Red Rose county, who topped the North Group, have been forced to seek an alternative venue to their traditional ground at Old Trafford because of the fourth Test match that is being staged there.

The Eagles snuck into the last eight of the competition via a flourishing finale to the qualifying stages of the South Group, winning three out of the last four matches.

Now Simon Harmer’s side has the opportunity to progress to Finals Day for the first time since 2013 and Head Coach Anthony McGrath admits that the late surge of form came at the right time.

He said: “We’ve done very well to qualify. At the halfway stage of our group matches, we were struggling for momentum, we’d had a couple of very good results, mixed in with some disappointing performances.

“Then we had a few games affected by the weather which at least allowed us to pick up a few points and regroup. From there on, we came back stronger, put in some excellent performances and got our rewards with a quarter-final place, although we did leave it late.”

The Eagles will have to cope from now on without fast bowler Mohammad Amir, who returned to Pakistan following Friday’s win against the Spitfires.

McGrath added: “It’s unfortunate because he’s bowled exceptionally well for us and played a huge part in getting us through to the quarters.

“But it is what it is and it gives the opportunity for one of the other lads to come in, take his place, and take their chance like Jamie Porter has done in the past couple of matches.”

McGrath was quick to heap praise on Dan Lawrence who is the Eagles leading run-scorer in the competition with 345 runs which includes 4 half-centuries.

McGrath said: “Dan has really blossomed this season, he’s a powerful, strong guy who has been hitting the ball hard and he is full of confidence and it’s great to see him doing so well.

“He’s an exciting talent, he’s got a big future ahead of him and he will have a key part to play for us over the years ahead.

“Hopefully, he can make another major contribution in the quarter-finals.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Lancashire Lightning:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Essex County Cricket Club are delighted to announce that top-order batsman, Dan Lawrence, has signed a contract extension and will stay with the Club until at least the end of the 2021 season.

Lawrence, 22, is an Essex Academy graduate and has made 64 first-class, 27 List A and 44 T20 appearances for the Club since making his debut in 2015.

The homegrown batsman had no hesitations in extending his contract and said: “I’m delighted to sign an extension and prolong my future with Essex.

“I’ve been at the Club since I was 10 and it was a really easy decision for me to make. Once the offer was put forward, it was just a case of signing on the dotted line.

“We have a really determined and ambitious group and I really believe we’re on the cusp of a long and successful era here at Essex.”

Head Coach Anthony McGrath is thrilled to see Lawrence extend his contract and said: “Dan is a really talented young batsman who has played an important role for us over the last few years and scored plenty of match-winning runs.

“He’s absolutely essential to what we are trying to build and achieve at the Club so it’s great news that he’s committed his future.”

Essex make an immediate switch of formats as they return to Vitality Blast action following the sensational victory on Tuesday in the Specsavers County Championship fixture with Kent.

The Eagles are in action at The 1st Central County Ground in Hove for the T20 encounter with Sussex Sharks, who start the match in pole position in the South Group with 15 points. 

Essex Eagles’ hopes of making progress through to the next stage have been derailed by the weather, with a total of just four overs in the last three matches.

In addition to the washed-out match early on in the competition against Gloucestershire, the Eagles have 8 points from 10 matches thus far; four points away from a Quarter-Final position in the table.

Head Coach, Anthony McGrath remains philosophical about the impact that the inclement weather has had on his squad’s aspirations for a place in the last eight.

“We can’t control the weather. It is what it is and you just have to get on with it but it has been frustrating,” he acknowledged.

“Obviously we’ve only won two of our matches in the first half of the Vitality Blast and were looking to gather some momentum in the second-half but the weather halted those hopes.

“We have four matches left starting with Sussex on Thursday and they are proving once again that they are a very dangerous side in this form of the game. They reached the Final last year and look to be on course for the knockout stages once again this time around.

“We probably need to win all four of our remaining games if we are to have the chance to join them but we’ll be giving it our best shot.

“We have a new captain this year in Simon Harmer and he’s wanted to try a few different things. He gets our complete backing but we need to get out on to the field to put all these ideas into practice.”

The Eagles have named the following a 14-man squad for the match that is scheduled to start at 7pm.

Essex Eagles team to face Sussex Sharks:

Simon Harmer (11) (Captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (Wicket-Keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

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

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

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

Toss: Uncontested, Essex elected to bowl

Umpires: Paul Baldwin & Ian Blackwell

Result: Essex win by 3 wickets

Day Three : Match Highlights

Day Three Reaction: Adam Wheater

Day Three Close of Play Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day Three Tea Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day Three Lunch Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day Two : Match Highlights

Day Two Reaction: Anthony McGrath

Day Two Close of Play Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day Two Tea Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day Two Lunch Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day One : Match Highlights

Day One Reaction: Sam Cook

Day One Close of Play Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day One Tea Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Day One Lunch Report:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essex return to red-ball cricket this weekend as Anthony McGrath’s side travel to Canterbury to face Kent in the Specsavers County Championship, starting on Sunday 18 August.

Peter Siddle will be missing from the side, having been called up by Australia for the Ashes series, but Mohammad Amir has been drafted in for what will be the final red-ball match of his career.

The 27-year-old has been playing T20 cricket with the Eagles and was a member of the successful 2017 Championship winning side, when his brief period with the Club saw him take 14 wickets in just three matches, all of which ended with Essex victories.

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, is delighted to have Amir for the game, and said: “To have him for this match is obviously outstanding and it’s a great boost for everyone.”

Essex lead the County Championship by 4 points and following this match, the Club will finish their Vitality Blast campaign before the final three Championship matches.

On the schedule, McGrath said: “The schedule is what it is. I think every coach will probably tell you that it is better to have the games in blocks but the way it has panned out means we have one game in the middle of our T20 campaign. Every team has got it so it’s the same for all and you just have to deal with it and get on with it.

“Of course, it means there is little time to get much preparation in for the return to red-ball cricket, but we’ll be doing that on Saturday ahead of the Kent game. T20 cricket and Championship cricket are polar opposites but we have to focus our minds on the return to the longer form of the game.

“We worked so hard to get to the top of the league and with four games left, we have to mentally switch on right from the start of the match with Kent. Our players have done so well in the 8-game block we had before the start of the T20 and hopefully, we can replicate those levels of performance when we play on Sunday.”

Essex squad to face Kent:

Ryan ten Doeschate (Captain) (27)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Nick Browne (10)
Alastair Cook (26)
Sam Cook (16)
Simon Harmer (11)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Rishi Patel (12)
Jamie Porter (44)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (Wicket-keeper) (31)

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

Essex Eagles Team: Not named

Glamorgan Team: Not named

Umpires: Rob Bailey & Ian Blackwell

Toss: No toss

Result: Match Abandoned – Rain

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Essex Eagles and Glamorgan are set to meet at The Cloudfm County Ground for the Vitality Blast match on Friday night.

Both clubs have been badly affected by the weather, which has left them each with three no result matches in the competition and includes the scheduled clash at Sophia Gardens last Friday.

Both counties also experienced wash-outs this week with the Eagles home clash with Middlesex and Glamorgan’s trip to Kent Spitfires falling victim to the elements with not a ball bowled in either match.

Eagles Head Coach Anthony McGrath remained positive despite the weather, saying: “There’s nothing that we can do about it, but it is frustrating and unfortunate.

“We would have been keen to play on Wednesday against Middlesex even if it had been reduced to a 5-overs per side game because we need to put some wins together.

“Now we must focus on the match with Glamorgan and with five games left, we’ve got to try and win them all. That’s the task ahead of us so let’s hope the weather is better on Friday and we can try and get the first of those wins. 

“We need to be playing these matches because we’ve got a fairly big squad made up of quite a lot of younger players and the only way to improve in this form of the game is is to get out there and play.

“Hopefully, we can get these last five games played and finish on a positive note. If we do win them all, you never know what the table might look like then.”

Essex Eagles squad to face Glamorgan:

Simon Harmer (11) (captain)
Mohammad Amir (5)
Aaron Beard (14)
Ravi Bopara (25)
Sam Cook (16)
Cameron Delport (89)
Ryan ten Doeschate (27)
Dan Lawrence (28)
Jamie Porter (44)
Shane Snater (29)
Paul Walter (22)
Tom Westley (21)
Adam Wheater (31) (wicket-keeper)
Adam Zampa (88)

Scheduled Match Timings:

Tickets: This match is sold out but you can keep up to date with the action via our Match Zone, which includes a live stream of the match, scorecard and stats – here.

Wet Weather Policy: There is rain forecast over Chelmsford on Friday and any decision made on play will be made by the match officials, not based on forecasts. If the game is abandoned due to bad weather then refunds are processed in line with our Wet Weather Policy.

If due to adverse weather conditions, 10 completed overs play or less is possible on the day of the match and the match has not been completed or a result obtained, the Club will refund the full ticket price to the purchaser (Season Tickets will be refunded on a pro-rata basis) without need for application. Wherever possible refund will be made to the credit/debit card used for payment. If not possible the Club will make contact to make other arrangements.

Travel:
By Train – Chelmsford Railway Station is operated by Greater Anglia and is approximately a 10-minute walk from The Cloudfm County Ground. Regular direct train services depart from Chelmsford to London, Stratford, Shenfield, Romford, Colchester, Ipswich and Norwich. Chelmsford is situated on the Liverpool Street to Norwich mainline, with 5 trains per hour to and from Central London. There are no disruption or rail replacement scheduled for this day. It takes approximately 8 minutes to walk to the ground from Chelmsford train station – More Information.

By Bus – Chelmsford Bus Station is situated on Duke Street, next to Chelmsford Train Station, with connections to all over the County. Alternatively, bus numbers 42 and 100, which are operated by First Group, stop on New London Road, which is approximately a two-minute walk to the ground, via New Writtle Street.

Parking – There is no parking available at The Cloudfm County Ground for this match. Members can park at our Meteor Way car park for the priced of £1 – View Map.

The High Chelmsford multi-storey car park is just a two-minute walk to the ground and will be operating extended hours for this match, closing at 11pm.