No task is too challenging - An Essex story

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CCD2 – Gloucs – Chelmsford

No changes but at the halfway stage we really need to upset the table toppers but they have a strong unit. A 100 run opening stand set the tone and everyone chipped in but the highlight was ten Doeschate scoring a fantastic 113 off only 97 balls, combining well with the tail. Topley then knocked them over and we enforced the follow on.

They had a 100 run opening stand and Roderick tried to play for the draw with a 294 defiant innings but it wasn’t quite enough with Topley getting another 5 and requiring only 90 to win we had no problems. A great effort considering how weak we are.



Batting Award: Ryan ten Doeschate – amazing hundred, really got a good score to a great score

Bowling Award: Reece Topley – He’s back in fine form and I am so pleased.

Championship State: 2nd (yay!) Next up Hampshire in Southampton

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CCD2 – Hampshire – Southampton

Hard decision but as Cook is back, Westley has to go despite good stats. Kieswetter is on serious notice though. Corbett and Southee are back and come in for Panesar and Masters.

This was a tough match started by Carberry and Dawson and the only person to do a decent job was ten Doeschate.



Batting Award: Ryan ten Doeschate – he is really becoming a great player

Bowling Award: Steve Corbett – the best of an average bunch

Championship State – 3rd – next up a crucial match against Derbyshire in Derby

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CCD2 – Derbyshire - Derby

Cook and Corbett are on England duty so Panesar and Westley are back. Derbyshire won the toss and batted pretty poorly with only Levi making a good contribution. Topley grabbed 5.

We batted a lot better with a 124 opening stand before Westley fell but Eckers and Bopara combined well before a collapse ensured we got less than hoped.

After losing a few wickets Derbyshire decided to play for the draw with our number 1 arch-nemesis Madsen amongst the runs. Eventually we bowled them out and got a target quickly as time pressure was on.



Batting Award: Tough but Tom Westley on a comeback batted well in both innings.

Bowling Award: Reece Topley, even though Southee got MOM, it was partly for his batting and Topley got the most wickets

Championship State: Back to 2nd. Next up a crucial match against Middlesex at home.

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CCD2 – Middlesex – Chelmsford

As an experiment, Cowe opens the batting. We batted first and Westley really started us off well before ten Doeschate and Kieswetter combined for a wonderful stand of 149.

Cowe was fresh after a day of rest and came out and bowled very well to knock them over. He and Southee then combined with the bat as well but we collapsed for a below par score.

They got close but in the end they could quite get there giving us a crucial win.



Batting Award: Ryan ten Doeschate – Great innings

Bowling Award: Dan Cowe – kept it tight and got big wickets

Championship State – We are 1st! Next up Leics at home

Aside: Youth player Mark Harrington has come to us and he might be a good T20 player but I don’t see any future with him.

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CCD2 – Leics – Chelmsford

No changes and Cowe stays at the top. Everyone batted well for us but ten Doeschate got a brilliant hundred. Southee then knocked over the top order and left them having to follow on.

They did much better but we still only need 28. Ireland grabbed 3 but we got it.



Batting Award: Ryan ten Doeschate – has been amazing this season

Bowling Award: Tim Southee – hasn’t been great but solid

Championship State: Keeping it secret now. Next up another game against Leics but in their backyard.

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20-20 update

Lost in the quarters, which is disappointing considering how well we performed all season.

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CCD2 – Leics – Leicester

One change as Philander is back and does a straight swap with Southee. Leics won the toss and batted and were impressive, with Thakor scoring a good hundred. Philander was the pick of the bowlers with 5 wickets. We were in trouble but a double century stand between Gregson and ten Doeschate helped us with the latter scoring 150, quite an amazing season for him.

Thakor scored again but Philander took 5 before Westley scored an amazing hundred to secure the win.



Batting Award: Ryan ten Doeschate – how good can he get?

Bowling Award: Vernon Philander – simply amazing

Next up Glamorgan at home.

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CCD2 – Glamorgan – Chelmsford

2 changes as Cook and Corbett are back with both in great form after great seasons with England, Cook averaging 55 for them this summer and Corbett with 65 wickets from 7 games! What a start for him. Eckersley is horribly out of form again and Masters looks like the weakest link in the bowling so they drop out.

Winning the toss and batting, Kemar Roach knocked over the top 3 early but Bairstow and Gregson steadied the ship with a decent partnership before the return of Roach got them both in quick succession and giving Roach 5. Ten Doeschate and Kieswetter played aggressively before Allenby got two. Ten Doeschate edged Glover to slip short of his hundred but Cowe played a magical knock with good support from the tail making the England captain and company look very foolish when playing Roach with ease. He eventually fell trying to take Glover over the top but secured 82 valuable runs in a near chanceless knock.

In return, Philander and Corbett showed why they are arguably the greatest opening bowling duo in history knocking over the top order before a late revival salvaged some pride for Glamorgan but we had no hesitation in enforcing the follow-on. Corbett and Philander had them 7-71 before Hogan decided to have some fun but after Bopara got him, Philander returned to trap Roach right in front sealing a big win.



Batting Award: Dan Cowe – why not? Had some good fun at the end but everyone batted well.

Bowling Award: Steve Corbett – he is now the number 1 bowler in the world. What an amazing find!

For the final game we play Surrey in South London.

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Challenge Trophy Update:

Overall domination. Enough said.

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CCD2 – Surrey - South London

Unchanged team as we play the team that may put our promotion plans to a halt. Surrey won the toss and batted but looked in trouble early as Corbett got two quickly. But Cleef and Smith halted our charge with a 124 run stand, before Topley trapped them both in front in quick succession. That sparked a collapse but Tremlett and Craddock hung around and hit a few long balls.

An opening stand of 89 but us in a good position but we collapsed to 7-148 and only Cowe offered any resistance with an unbeaten 40. Topley took 3 early in reply but a hundred from youth player Miller really took the game away from us and they ended up declaring.

We simply collapsed with Meaker taking another 5. The question is though; do we have enough to qualify?



Batting Award: No way

Bowling Award: No way

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And the promoted teams are…



So we top the group and are promoted. Gloucs also snuck in whilst Middlesex just missed out. All in all, a great season. Full season in review coming up.

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Ex Players?

Hassan – Nothing

Velani – 3 games 97 runs, not much

Browne – 12 games at an average of 32, not bad

Bowles – Played a few ODs and did well as a finisher

Smith – played a few games but nothing of interest

Park – 12 FC games, decent job

Moore – Nothing

Salisbury – Nothing

Craddock – 81 FC wickets, amazing stats

[GrahamB]

Always interesting to see whether you made the right decision letting certain players go.

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Always interesting to see whether you made the right decision letting certain players go.

Yeah, I really needed a decent spinner as Panesar was useless and Cowe was average with the ball (great with the bat) and Craddock would have been perfect. I may have stuffed up slightly in these contracts but I did alright.

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Season in review





Marks out of 10

10 – Steve Corbett – What an amazing start to his career. 6 bowling awards and 1 batting one. He is now the no1 ranked bowler in the world.

9.5 – Ryan ten Doeschate – Lower middle order, averaging 60 at a good strike rate and bowled alright too, I only wish he was available for the whole season. 5 awards for him

9 – Alistair Cook – great season for the England captain, only a solitary award though

Vernon Philander – Good with bat and ball, just injured for a bit too long, 4 awards

8.5 – Simon Gregson – amazing first season for him. He will be in England colours soon. One award

8 – Tom Westley – fought off bad form for a very good season, 2 awards

Reece Topley – played well when spearheading the attack, 4 awards

7 – Jonny Bairstow – solid but not much more. 1 award

Ravi Bopara – very hot and cold but played alright. 1 award

6 – Dan Cowe – handy lower order batsman, bowling was average. 3 batting awards and 1 bowling awards

5.5 – Craig Kieswetter – kept ok, and batted average but played every game. 1 award.

4.5 – Ned Eckersley – Decent but lost his place in the team. No awards

4 – Jaik Mickleburugh – in and out but pretty dreadful. No awards.

3- Tim Southee – solid but not much considering his price. 1 award

2- Graham Napier – gets one solely on the basis of filling in overs while Philander was injured. No awards.

1 – Mark Pettini – 1 game no impact. No awards

Contracts soon.