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The 2023 Metro Bank One Day Cup is now just around the proverbial corner, with tomorrow’s trip to Sedbergh School to take on Lancashire firing the starting gun on Essex’s 50-over campaign.

Ahead of a group stage that will see the Eagles face eight fixtures in 22 days, an invitation was sent to several watching pundits to give their predictions on how the competition might play out this year.

Those who contributed are Martin Smith from the ECB Reporters’ Network, Daily Mail cricket correspondent Paul Newman, presenter of BBC Radio Essex’s Around the Wicket Victoria Polley, freelance cricket journalist Ciaran McCarthy, and Aaron Viles of The County Cricket Podcast.
 

First things first, what do you make of Essex’s overall chances in this year’s tournament?

Martin Smith: Because of the exodus of players to The Hundred, and no clear form lines for the competition, it is difficult to assess. An improvement on last year’s sixth place in the group would represent progress.

Paul Newman: Essex have lost quite a few players to the Hundred, but opportunity knocks, and I think this is a great chance for the Eagles to win another trophy. How about a Championship and One Day Cup double to complete the summer?

Victoria Polley: I’m excited to see how Essex do this summer. They need more consistency in results compared to last year to get to the knockout stages, but I think there will be a good mix of experience and young talent in the side to continue what has already been a great summer.

Ciaran McCarthy: I feel as if Essex have a good chance of going all the way. They have a very good core of youth players, and there are some experienced, in-form players alongside them.

Aaron Viles: I think Essex have a strong chance, and I really like the mix of youth and experience that the Eagles have at their disposal this year. With the ever reliable Tom Westley at the helm, Simon Harmer returning to the fold and an exciting crop of youngsters ready to make their impact felt, I reckon Essex will be strong contenders for a top three place in Group A.

Who do you think will be Essex’s leading run-scorer?

MS: Last year’s One Day Cup sparked a resurgence in Tom Westley’s form with two centuries and two fifties in seven innings, and there is no reason why he can’t rise to the occasion again.

PN: I think Robin Das has the chance to make his mark in this competition. He has come off the Wanstead production line and has a great future.

VP: It’s hard to look past the experience of captain Tom Westley, who had a great One Day Cup campaign with the bat last summer too. I also wouldn’t rule out Robin Das continuing to show his class across all formats with the bat this summer.

CM: Robin Das is one to watch after he paired a great introduction to first-class cricket by scoring a ton against Ireland with some good scores in the Blast.

AV: I also can’t look past Tom Westley. The former England man has been in imperious form with the bat in the County Championship and finished as Essex’s second leading run scorer in the One Day Cup last season with 335 runs at 47.85. I think this year he’ll go one better and top the charts.

Captain Tom Westley is being tipped to continue his County Championship form in the white-ball arena

How about the Eagles’ top wicket-taker?

MS: Jamie Porter is enjoying a purple patch with a red-ball in the Championship and that can be replicated with a white-ball in the One-Day Cup.

PN: It was great to see Jamie Porter in the wickets in that Championship win over Hampshire and he’s my tip to take many more in the 50-over competition.

VP: Simon Harmer comes into the competition in great County Championship form, but I also wouldn’t rule out Jamal Richards picking up where he left off in last year’s competition.

CM: It would be difficult to suggest anyone will have as much of an impact with the ball as Simon Harmer.

AV: How can anyone look past Simon Harmer? He’s looked in ominous touch across both formats for Essex so far this season and will be eager to make up for lost time after missing last year’s competition.

Who is your one to watch from the Essex squad?

MS: Because the One Day Cup has been turned into a development competition, it would be wrong not to pick an up-and-coming player. It will be interesting to see if 18-year-old batsman Noah Thain is as good as his figures suggest.

PN: As well as Das, keep an eye too on Jamal Richards. With opportunity will come real progress for the all-rounder.

VP: I’m looking forward to seeing more of teenage all-rounder Noah Thain, who signed a rookie contract this summer. He’s impressed with bat and ball in the 2nd XI and Academy games and hit some HUGE boundaries in his first class debut against Ireland earlier this season. More of that please!

CM: While it would be remiss not to mention Simon Harmer, I feel Das will really begin to break through in this competition.

AV: I’ll also choose Robin Das, who really impressed me with his classy shot selection and temperament on his first-class debut against Ireland. He had a decent time in the 2022 One Day Cup as well; 202 runs at 28.85 made for solid reading considering it was his debut List A season. With additional playing experience under his belt and a plethora of scoring options at his disposal, I highly recommend Essex fans keep a close eye on Robin’s development for many years to come.

Many of the panel believe Robin Das will be in the runs for the Eagles in August

Who is your player to watch out for from the whole of Group A?

MS: Lancashire’s young wicketkeeper-batsman George Bell has impressed in two Championship visits to Chelmsford in the last 12 months and deserves his chance to shine in the shorter game.

PN: I’m going for Lancashire’s Josh Bohannon. He’s a good player who doesn’t seem to feature in T20 cricket but should be a force in the 50-over game.

VP: It’s always hard to know who is going to feature in the competition before we get going but I’ll say Tom Prest for Hampshire who had a good campaign last season and was part of the T20 Blast side who made it to Finals Day.

CM: Keaton Jennings will be keen to make up for the time he’s had to sit out due to injury this season. The One-Day Cup represents a chance for the Lancashire batter to surpass his 390 runs from last season and drive his side into the knockouts.

AV: Funnily enough, I’ve chosen a former Essex man; Chigwell’s very own Rishi Patel. After a bitterly disappointing 2022 campaign I back Rishi to come back with a vengeance. He’s proven that he can score big in this format in the past and has impressed with a slew of memorable performances in the County Championship and T20 Blast over the past few months.

Which three Group A teams do you believe will make the knockout stages?

MS: Hampshire, Lancashire, and Leicestershire.

PN: I’m going for three from Essex, Surrey, Lancashire, and Hampshire.

VP: I think it will be between Essex, Hampshire, Nottinghamshire, and Lancashire.

CM: Essex, Lancashire, Kent, and Yorkshire have some of the strongest squads.

AV: Considering that five out of the six playoff teams from 2022 make up the group, it’s going to be an absolute dogfight for those top three places, but I’ll go for Lancashire, Essex, and Leicestershire.

Finally – and maybe the most difficult question! – who do you think will win the whole competition?

MS: Lancashire.

PN: Essex!

VP: My heart says Essex, but my head says Hampshire.

CM: It’s genuinely difficult to look past Essex; the fact that Simon Harmer – who led them to the runners up spot in the T20 Blast – will be available gives them a massive boost alongside exciting young talents such as Robin Das and Jamal Richards.

AV: If the last two editions of the tournament have taught us anything, it’s that we should expect the unexpected – neither Glamorgan nor Kent were highly favoured before the start of their respective winning campaigns. With that in mind, I’m going to back Warwickshire.
 

Five Eagles have been named in the MVP Team of the Month for July after a stellar month in the LV= Insurance County Championship and Vitality Blast, which ended in Essex reaching the Final.

The PCA’s Most Valuable Player Rankings have decided the teams of the month in domestic men’s and women’s cricket for the month of July.

Using the MVP’s unique algorithm, both elevens have been selected by picking out the game’s top performers across every single domestic fixture in the month.

The PCA’s MVP system, powered by Argentex, works by comparing a player’s accomplishments against the expected performance for that game. Runs and wickets achieved at each ground are also considered and compared to the average. Enabling players to score or lose MVP points on every ball through CricViz’s extensive historical database, the rankings is a true reflection of performance.

The teams have been selected to create a well-balanced side, so that it’s not just the best 11 cricketers according to MVP points. This means players such as Alex Lees are unfortunate to miss out due to the fantastic form of Luis Reece and Rob Yates at the top of the order.

In the men’s game, the month saw the culmination of the Vitality Blast alongside two rounds of the LV= Insurance County Championship.

Somerset all-rounder Matt Henry impressed in both formats earning 135.75 points after taking 14 wickets at an average of 13.5 in First-Class cricket, whilst helping Somerset win the Vitality Blast with 10 T20 wickets in the month including 4-24 in the final. The New Zealander makes the side for the second month in succession.

Essex all-rounder Paul Walter also impressed with 121.62 MVP points in July taking 14 wickets across both disciplines, including 3-29 in the final of the Blast. Essex spinner Simon Harmer makes the team for a third time this season having also been selected in April and June.

In the women’s game, July saw the continuation of the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy. For the third month in a row, Southern Vipers skipper Georgia Adams makes the team of the month and captains on this occasion having amassed an impressive 61.41 MVP points after scoring 155 runs and taking seven wickets.

Lauren Winfield-Hill also had a good July scoring 241 runs at a brilliant average of 60.3 earning her 45.03 MVP points. The Northern Diamonds opener scored the most batting points in the month with a total of 39.03. Jodie Grewcock had a good month with bat and ball scoring 78 runs and taking seven wickets earning her 49.91 MVP points in July.

Men’s MVP Team of the Month:

1- Luis Reece 91.7
2- Rob Yates 92.16
3- Dan Lawrence 109.67
4- Matt Critchley 92.95
5- Paul Walter 121.62
6- Ryan Higgins 123.28
7- Phil Salt (WK) 83.68
8- Simon Harmer 107.56
9- Craig Overton 117.37
10- Matt Henry (C) 135.75
11- Sam Cook 95.76

Women’s MVP Team of the Month:

1- Lauren Winfield-Hill (WK) – 45.03
2- Marie Kelly – 44.14
3- Georgia Adams (C) – 61.41
4- Emily Windsor – 39.65
5- Tazmin Brits – 39.87
6- Teresa Graves – 39.30
7- Jodie Grewcock – 49.91
8- Katie George – 42.43
9- Sophie Munro – 45.85
10- Kirstie Gordon – 34.77
11- Maitlan Brown – 30.81

Bedfordshire v Essex

National Counties Showcase 50-over Match

Dunstable Town Cricket Club, Dunstable

Sunday 30 July 2023, 12pm start

Team News:

Bedfordshire: Fayaz Homyoon, Oli Soames, Harry Gouldstone (wk), George Thurstance (c), Matt Coles, Archie Houghton, Matt Taylor, Sam Bates, Alex Evans, Jack Fuller, Joe Lowe.

Essex: Nick Browne (c), Josh Rymell, Robin Das, Noah Thain, Charlie Allison, Will Buttleman (wk), Jamal Richards, Aaron Beard, Ben Allison, Aron Nijjar, Mackenzie Jones.

Match Details:

Umpires: Ben Debenham & Caspar Viljoen
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bat
Result: 

Scorecard: View Here

Match Report:

Rain forced the abandonment of this year’s National Counties 50-over Showcase match against Bedfordshire after Essex had reached 154-3 from 20.2 overs with Robin Das and Josh Rymell both posting half-centuries.

The young pair combined for an entertaining partnership of 117 in 14 overs and both struck cleanly and fluently with an array of pleasing drives on both sides of the wicket.

At the end of the first 10 overs powerplay, Essex were 89-1 with 21 year-old Das and Rymell, just a year older, capitalising on any delivery lacking line or length.

Opening the innings, Das was the first to his 50 in the 12th over of the innings and taking the total onto 95 before Rymell brought the score into three figures with a 6 off Archie Houghton.

A boundary by Rymell three overs later brought him to his 50 and also raised a century partnership with Das in 12 overs.

Played at the delightful Dunstable Town Cricket Club, the visitors had appeared on course for a substantial total until heavy rain arrived at 1:16pm to send players and spectators running for cover.

Essex skipper Nick Browne won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bat and soon found the boundary against former Essex all-rounder Matt Coles by executing a delightful off drive.

But immediately afterwards, having scored 8 out of 13, he was caught at deep square leg leaving Rymell to join Das.

They carried the score onto 134 before the partnership was broken when Das, having faced 51 balls with one maximum and 10 fours in his innings of 68, drove to mid-on.

Noah Thain and Rymell advanced the score to 154 before Thain was bowled for 12, however that was to prove the final action of the day as the weather took control.

Rymell was unbeaten on 63 from 47 balls that included 1 six and 8 fours but the incessant rain prevented him from inflicting further damage on the Bedfordshire attack.

With no improvement in conditions forecast, umpires Ben Debenham and Casper Viljoen called play off at 3:30pm.

Hopefully, the weather will have relented when Essex commence the Metro Bank One Day Cup campaign when they play Lancashire at Sedburgh on Tuesday before returning to Chelmsford for the first of four home matches in the 50-overs tournament starting with a visit from Notts Outlaws on Thursday.

Tickets for the four home group games are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the link below:

For the next month, attention returns to the white-ball game for Essex as the Metro Bank One Day Cup takes centre stage.

The Eagles will kick off the 50-over tournament against Lancashire next week, but before that, they will warm up for the competition with a showcase match against Bedfordshire at Dunstable Town CC on Sunday.

For the hosts, members of the National Counties Cricket Association (NCAA), it will be a third opportunity in the past three years to test themselves against first-class opposition, having faced Northamptonshire in 2021 and 2022.

Essex will be equally keen to use the fixture as preparation ahead of the One Day Cup, which, after the Lancashire clash, takes in games against Nottinghamshire, Hampshire, Middlesex, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Kent, and Surrey.
 

Squad

Head Coach Anthony McGrath has named a 12-player squad to travel to Dunstable with youngsters Noah Thain and Mackenzie Jones potentially in line to make their first-team debuts.

Fellow prospect Charlie Allison, who played in the 2022 NCAA showcase match away to Cambridgeshire, is also in contention following the announcement of his rookie contract covering the remainder of the season.

Meanwhile, the likes of Nick Browne and Jamie Porter represent the more established senior players within the group.
 

The Opposition

Bedfordshire squad: George Thurstance (c), Sam Bates, Matt Coles, Jack Fuller, Archie Houghton, Joe Lowe, Alex Evans, Matt Taylor (wk), Harry Gouldstone, Oli Soames, Fayaz Homyoon, Danyaal Khalid.

As members of the NCCA, Bedfordshire have participated in three competitions this summer following the same formats seen in the first-class game.

In the Three-Day Championship, they currently occupy top spot in the Eastern Division Two table after winning their first two games against Cumbria, by seven wickets, and Northumberland, by four wickets.

Following their meeting with the Eagles, they will take on Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire with the aim of maintaining their table-topping position and returning to Division One at the first time of asking.

Meanwhile, they finished third in the five-team Group 4 of the NCCA T20 competition with four wins and four defeats, and fourth in Group 2 of the 50-over NCCA Trophy with their sole victory coming against Devon.
 

Metro Bank One-Day Cup Fixtures

Last Time We Met

A trip all the way back to 1971 is required to find the last time Essex and Bedfordshire faced each other at the first-team level, in the then-named Gillette Cup.

Subsequently named the NatWest Trophy, the C&G Trophy, and then the Friends Provident Trophy before it was replaced following the 2009 season, the tournament at that time took the format of a knockout competition.

It was in the first round 52 years ago when Bedfordshire visited Chelmsford, and thanks to a Brian Ward century, the hosts ran out winners by 97 runs on that occasion in a 60-overs-per-side match.

An opening stand of 149 between Ward and Bruce Francis, who made 87, teed up the Essex total of 301-9 as Gordon Barker and Keith Fletcher also contributed with scores of 46 and 45, respectively.

In reply, Bedfordshire could muster only 204-8 as, despite 80 from William Bushby and Patrick Briggs’ 69, two wickets for Ray East saw Essex successfully defend their total.

Keith Boyce, Robin Hobbs, John Lever, and David Acfield all chipped in with a scalp apiece as the hosts progressed to the second round, and they would go on to reach the quarter-finals that year before falling to Lancashire.
 

Tickets

Tickets are now on sale for this fixture, priced at £5 for Essex Members and £10 for public, while under 16 will be admitted free of charge.

In addition, tickets are also on sale for Essex’s four home games in this season’s Metro Bank One Day Cup, with McGrath’s squad set to welcome Notts Outlaws, Middlesex, Yorkshire Vikings, and Surrey to Chelmsford.

All tickets can be purchased by visiting the link below:

How To Watch

Live updates of the match will be provided on the Essex social channels, alongside a report of the action on the Club website following the conclusion of play.

Essex Cricket is delighted to announce that Colchester-born batter Charlie Allison has signed a rookie contract covering the remainder of the 2023 season.

Allison, 18, made his Essex 2nd XI debut in a 10-wicket T20 victory against Middlesex at Southend’s Garon Park in May last year, playing alongside elder brother, and established Essex first-teamer, Ben.

In nine 2nd XI T20s to date, Allison has a strike rate of 150.63, and he has further underlined his credentials in the 2nd XI Championship this season by crunching consecutive centuries against Middlesex and Hampshire for a total of 226 runs in just 282 balls.

The right-hander has been on the Essex age-group pathway from under-9 level, and in July 2018, aged just 13, he returned figures of 2/24 from seven overs in a nine-wicket victory over Norfolk in a 50-over match.

In club cricket, Allison plays for his hometown team of Colchester and East Essex, and last year hit 249 runs at 41.50 and took 13 wickets at 20.84 in the Essex Cricket League Premier Division.

Allison will wear number 56, and after committing his immediate future to the Club, he said: “I’m thrilled to sign this contract with Essex, which is a huge step forward in my career.

“With a competition like the One Day Cup, which gives developing players more of a chance to make their first-team debut than ever before, just around the corner, it feels like a really exciting time to come on board.

“I’d like to thank everyone who has helped me get to this point, and I can’t wait to hopefully step on the field and win matches for my home county.”

Alongside Allison, the Club is pleased to announce that Mackenzie Jones has also signed a short-term rookie deal and is in contention to be involved in the NCAA Showcase Match against Bedfordshire in Dunstable on Sunday.

Jones has made three appearances for the 2nd XI so far this season, and in the same match against Hampshire which saw Allison post the second of his back-to-back hundreds, he contributed an unbeaten 16 as well as figures of 1/12 from six overs.
 

Kent Second XI: Daniel Bell-Drummond, Marcus O’Riordan*, Sam Billings†, Gareth Severin, Sam Smith, Joe Gordon, Will Naish, Daniel O’Driscoll, Max Harris, Toby Greatwood, George Garrett

Match Details:

Umpires: M Johnson and A Page
Toss: Essex Second XI won the toss and elected to bat
Result: Kent won by six wickets

Scorecard: View here

Match Report:

Essex’s second string came up short as their Kent counterparts won their 50-Over One-Day friendly fixture, staged at The County Ground, Beckenham, by six wickets.

Once again, Charlie Allison excelled with the bat, falling just short of a century. Allison scored 92 off 87 balls during a productive 106 minutes in the middle. His innings included five 4s and four 6s.

Meanwhile, Will Buttleman’s 64 came from 71 and Noah Thain’s 56 off 51. George Garrett returned figures of three for 45 from his eight overs, while Toby Greatwood chipped in with 3/74 and JS Bassan 2/24 as the Essex innings was concluded inside 46 overs, the visitors having reached a seemingly competitive 297.

However, an experienced Kent side made short work of the chase. Skipper Marcus O’Riordan batted superbly for his 103 off 103 balls, while Sam Billings contributed 75 and Daniel Bell-Drummond 52.

Gordon hit Dwivedi for a boundary to secure Kent’s victory with 49 balls to spare. Dwivedi, Ben Allison, Aron Nijjar and Prideaux were the successful Essex bowlers among the eight they deployed.

Essex Cricket is thrilled to announce that wicket-keeper batter Jordan Cox will join the Club from Kent after agreeing a three-year deal from the start of the 2024 season.

Cox, 22, made his Kent debut in April 2019 against a touring Pakistan side and after consistent performances with bat in hand, earned a call-up to the England Under-19 squad for matches against India and Bangladesh.

He memorably hit an unbeaten 238 in 2020, when, alongside Jack Leaning, he participated in Kent’s highest partnership of all time, putting on 423 for the second wicket against Sussex.

In his four seasons with Kent so far, Cox has totalled over 4,000 runs across all formats and boasts four first-class centuries to his name, alongside a T20 strike rate of almost 140.

The right-hander received full international recognition in September last year when he was named among the 21-strong England squad that toured Pakistan for seven T20Is.

After putting pen to paper, Cox said: “It’s a real honour to sign for Essex, the county where I went to school and where I first developed as a cricketer.

“The team is full of talent, they are going places, and I can only see the group getting better over the coming seasons. I’m excited to join them and contribute to what I hope will be a successful future.”

Essex Head Coach, Anthony McGrath, added: “I am delighted that we have been able to secure the signing of Jordan, who is a young, hungry cricketer looking to impress in all formats.

“He will add real depth and quality to our batting line-up, as well as strengthening our wicket-keeping ranks too, and we are all very much looking forward to working with him.”

Hampshire v Essex

LV= Insurance County Championship

The Ageas Bowl, Southampton

Team News:

Hampshire: Ian Holland, Fletcha Middleton, Nick Gubbins, James Vince (c), Ben Brown (wk), Liam Dawson, Felix Organ, James Fuller, Kyle Abbott, John Turner, Mo Abbas.

Essex: Nick Browne, Alastair Cook, Tom Westley (c), Matt Critchley, Michael Pepper, Paul Walter, Adam Rossington (wk), Simon Harmer, Shane Snater, Sam Cook, Jamie Porter.

Match Details:

Umpires: Mike Burns and Rob White
Match Referee: Wayne Noon
Toss: Essex won the toss and elected to bowl
Result: Essex won by 6 wickets

Scorecard: View Here

Day Three Highlights:

Day Three Report:

Jamie Porter claimed the third 10-wicket haul of his career as Essex boosted their LV= Insurance County Championship title hopes while destroying Hampshire’s chances.

Paceman Porter followed up his first-innings five for 37 by snaring five for 46 in the second innings totalling up to match figures of 10 for 83.

It was his first 10-for away from the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford, first since 2018 and in his renaissance season now has a Division One leading 47 wickets this season.

Chasing 83 to win, Kyle Abbott claimed three for 23 but Nick Browne’s 28 and Paul Walter’s 28 not out took Essex to their sixth win of the season with a six-wicket victory.

Hampshire’s gamble to ask for a result pitch backfired as the usual Ageas Bowl seam-friendly pitch which flattens out never flattened out.

That meant almost incessant seam movement, coupled with invariable bounce, made batting tricky – typified by Nick Gubbins’ 45 being the highest individual score of the game and only 506 runs coming in total across the four innings.

Hampshire and Essex both knew going into the match that only the winner would realistically be able to challenge Surrey for the title.

Surrey will land on at least 167 points – and more likely 183 – after the conclusion of their clash with Somerset. Essex are now up to 166 points and Hampshire on 135, with 72 points still available.

Hampshire lost their remaining four wickets for nine runs in 25 balls – with Porter and Sam Cook sharing the scalps.

James Fuller’s back foot waft was caught behind to the ninth ball of the day before Abbott last four balls before he was brilliantly caught by a one-handed Simon Harmer pounce at second slip.

Porter added Hampshire to Somerset and Worcestershire in his 10-for victims when John Turner drove to Harmer.

Amongst the churn of batters, Nick Gubbins was still there having only moved his overnight total from 44 to 45. In seeing genuine No.11 Mohammad Abbas arrive at the crease he aborted his patient style and was bowled attempted to slog across the line. Hampshire bowled out for 131.

Essex had lost three wickets in their chase of 30 against Kent last week, albeit rushed by incoming rain. They threatened a similar wobble at the Ageas Bowl.

Abbott picked up Alastair Cook nicking behind a drive to the 10th ball of the innings before Tom Westley – the Division’s second highest run scorer – clipped to midwicket in the fourth over.

But Hampshire’s early jubilation was drowned by Browne grafting with Paul Walter – the pair chalking off 33 runs for the third wicket.

Browne was put down at mid off by Liam Dawson before eventually falling lbw to Abbas but the damage he had made through his four boundaries was already fatal to Hampshire’s chances.

Matt Critchley had the top of his off stump kissed by a beautiful Abbott in-ducker and Michael Pepper was softly dropped at square leg second ball with 29 still needed.

But Pepper and Walter guided Essex to victory in the extra half an hour before lunch.

Day Two Highlights:

Day Two Report:

Nick Gubbins gave Hampshire a sniff of saving their LV= Insurance County Championship fixture with Essex with a technically gifted unbeaten 44.

Hampshire looked on the brink of a fourth defeat of the season, which would have all but ended their title hopes, having given up a 49-run first-innings lead and lost four second-innings wickets before wiping out the deficit.

Jamie Porter was the main architect of the destruction with another three wickets to go with his first innings five for 37, but Gubbins showed a high level of control of a tricky pitch to reach the highest individual score of the match so far.

When the day-ending rain came at tea, he was six runs shy of a fifth half-century of the season and helped his side to a 73-run lead.

Essex lost their four remaining wickets for just 24 runs as the pitch lost its green tinge and became a much slower surface, albeit still favouring the bowlers with turn and invariable bounce coming to the fore.

Adam Rossington was challenged outside his off stump by John Turner to edge behind – the newly England-qualified fast bowler claiming Championship best of three for 23.

Sam Cook was leg-before to Kyle Abbott before Liam Dawson had Jamie Porter caught behind.

Shane Snater had been helped off the field just over 24 hours previous, having damaged his calf while bowling, but bravely reappeared with Michael Pepper as his runner. He lasted just three balls before he was lbw to Dawson.

Essex’s 169 had put them on top in the match before their new ball bowling rammed home their dominance.

Ian Holland was the latest member to get back on the Hampshire opening batter merry-go-round against Nottinghamshire last time out, and took his chance with a sensational 138 not out.

But the frustrating inconsistency at the top of the order, which has seen Felix Organ and Joe Weatherley discarded this season, struck as his first-innings three was joined by a second innings four as Porter had him lbw.

Fletcha Middleton, who has opened throughout the season, only made eight before Sam Cook stung his pads.

Gubbins had top scored for Hampshire in the first innings with 25 and demonstrated great patience, and trust in his exemplary technique, by taking 13 balls to get off the mark.

He put on 34 with James Vince – who suffered a blow to the box when the ball misbehaved – before the captain hoicked to long leg off Paul Walter’s first ball – the tall left-armer picking him up in both innings.

Ben Brown was unconvincing in his edge to gully, Dawson filthy with himself after going back to Harmer and dragging on before Organ was Porter’s eighth victim of the match with another leg-before.

Gubbins, who had an early life when an edge went through second slip, responded to that wicket by crouching onto his haunches and squatting a praying pose with the lead at a nominal 41.

His worship was answered in the form of James Fuller, who joined him in an unbroken 32-run stand which nudged Hampshire towards setting Essex a target of note. However, the visitors remain heavy favourites.

Day One Highlights:

Day One Report:

Jamie Porter claimed a five-wicket haul as Essex rolled title rivals Hampshire out for 120 in the LV=Insurance County Championship.

Fast bowler Porter took five for 37 on a bowler-friendly Ageas Bowl pitch, with Simon Harmer assisting with three for 26.

Essex replied by reaching 145 for six before close, to take a 25-run lead into day two, with two wickets apiece for Kyle Abbott and John Turner kept the visitors in check.

Essex won the toss and Tom Westley gleefully put his hosts into bat first on a pitch on which appeared to have been prepared to promote a positive result.

That outcome is needed for both sides, placed second and third coming into this round of fixtures, in their quests to chase down runaway leaders Surrey – who led Essex and Hampshire by 14 and 29 points with four matches to go.

Hampshire are 50 years without a Championship title and is the only trophy Rod Bransgrove hasn’t won in his 23 years as chairman – this will be his last chance after announcing his decision to step down at the end of the season before play.

Hampshire openers Ian Holland and Fletcha Middleton were both snared out by Porter before seven overs had been completed.

But Essex’s early joy was tainted by Shane Snater – who had replaced the ill Doug Bracewell – limping off after five balls, having pulled out of a delivery just before reaching his stride.

The loss of a main bowler mattered little as Paul Walter stepped up and angled across James Vince, and with Hampshire eventually bowled out inside 39 overs it meant fewer miles in the legs.

Ben Brown was well caught at first slip by Simon Harmer, Nick Gubbins was loose on the drive off Porter and Liam Dawson top-edged a sweep to fine leg to leave Hampshire 79 for six at lunch.

Porter is back to his destructive best this season after a series of lean seasons, by his high standards.

Having put himself on the England radar with Championship wicket tallies of at least 48 between 2015 and 2019, Porter claimed 34 scalps in 2021 and only 19 wickets last season, with Sam Cook rising to lead the attack.

His five at the Ageas Bowl took him to 42 wickets for the season – only spinning team-mate Harmer and Nottinghamshire’s Brett Hutton have more.

Porter was rewarded for his potent accuracy with his second five-for of the season by spearing into Felix Organ’s back pad, before James Fuller advanced and slapped the next ball he bowled to deep cover.

Harmer wrapped up the tail with Turner edging to slip and Mohammad Abbas slogged to long on as Hampshire were bowled out for 120.

In reply, Nick Browne was bowled by Abbas in the fifth over. as the pitch remained unmoved in its bowling friendliness.

Abbott picked up Alastair Cook and Paul Walter in a double wicket maiden to see Essex to 16 for three and in danger of copying Hampshire’s low score.

But Essex did something Hampshire couldn’t do; form partnerships.

Only Gubbins and Vince’s 39-run stand had topped 20, while Tom Westley and Matt Critchley added 41 before Critchley and Michael Pepper scored 36 together before Pepper and Adam Rossington joined forces for 25.

Vince, who managed to negotiate his way to three replacement balls, only called on Vitality Blast hero Turner in the 34th over.

The wait had Turner raring to go as he bounded in to crash into Critchley’s pads first ball before later finding Pepper’s outside edge.

Essex edged into a first-innings lead with Rossington and Harmer reaching the end of the day with a platform to secure an important first-innings lead.