Flying High Again: Essex County Cricket Club Story

[MELB52]

After yet another season of so near but yet so far, Essex are looking to progress on in 2015. Missing out on promotion to Division 1 of the County Championship by just 8 points, and falling in the quarter finals of both limited over competitions showed that there is clearly a talented squad, but that talent fails to apply itself all too often.

With the likes of Ravi Bopara, Ryan ten Doeschate and Jesse Ryder on the books, this team's main target for the season has to be gaining promotion to Division 1 of the County Championship. Alongside this, they will of course be looking to build on last years limited overs partial success and bring some silverware back to the fans who turn the Essex County Ground into Fortress Chelmsford.

[MELB52]

2015 Offseason

Players In

Gareth Cross - signed on a 1 year deal to provide a backup wicketkeeper
Albie Morkel - reserve overseas player

Players Out

Ben Foakes - Surrey
Tymal Mills - Sussex
Sajid Mahmood - Released
Tom Craddock - Released
Tim Phillips - Retired

[MELB52]

2015 Squad

Name - Age - Role

Nick Browne - 24 - Opening Batsman
Alastair Cook- 30 - Opening Batsman
Tom Westley - 26 - Opening Batsman
Liam Gough - 20 - Batsman
Dan Lawrence - 18 - Batsman
Jaik Mickelburgh - 25 - Batsman
Mark Pettini - 32 - Batsman
Callum Taylor - 17 - Batsman
Kishen Velani - 21 - Batsman

James Foster - 35 - Wicketkeeper
Saf Imtiaz - 19 - Wicketkeeper
Gareth Cross - 31 - Wicketkeeper

Ravi Bopara - 30 - Batting Allrounder
Jesse Ryder - 31 - Batting Allrounder - OVERSEAS PLAYER
Ryan ten Doeschate - Batting Allrounder
Greg Smith - 32 - Allrounder
Albie Morkel - 34 - Allrounder - RESERVE OVERSEAS PLAYER
Graham Napier - 35 - Bowling Allrounder

Adeel Malik - 30 - Leg Spinner
David Masters - 37 - Fast Medium Bowler
Tom Moore - 23 - Fast Medium Bowler
Aron Nijjar - 20 - Slow Left Arm Bowler
Monty Panesar - 32 - Slow Left Arm Bowler
Jamie Porter - 21 - Medium Fast Bowler
Matt Salisbury - 22 - Medium Fast Bowler
Shaun Tait - 32 - Fast Bowler - T20 ONLY
Reece Topley - 21 - Fast Medium Bowler

[MELB52]

Preseason game vs. Cardiff University

With Ravi Bopara and Ryan ten Doeschate away in India for the start of the season, this game will hopefully prove useful in finding out who can help us out in the middle order until those two return. This game also gives a chance to have a look at some fringe player, along with getting some established players either time at the crease or wickets under the belt.

Nick Browne broke his finger in the nets before this game began, and he will miss at least two weeks until he can build on his promising 2014 campaign. This means that a slot at the top of the order needs filling, and hopefully the pairing of Tom Westley and Jaik Mickelburgh can build some chemistry during the match leading into the opening game against Kent.

On a crisp April morning, Cardiff won the toss and chose to have a bat first. The Essex bowlers had a good run out, with the youthful Porter and experienced Napier both taking 4 wickets in dismissing Cardiff for 233.

Jamie Porter is a young bowler who has progressed through the Essex youth system, and after impressing in 3 first class games last year he will be looking to build this year. Essex have stated that they are planning to rotate their seamers this year to keep everyone fresh, and with Masters aging and Topley recovering from a back injury, this young man is one to keep an eye on throughout the year.

The new opening partnership of Essex, given the challenge to cement their spot for the opening championship game did just that. 331 runs were on the board when the first wicket fell, that of Mickleburgh, and Tom Westley kept going and put a huge personal total of 244 on the board. Both of these guys will be hoping to carry this form into next week.

Unfortunately the two debutantes in the top order did not have such luck, but at the ages of 17 and 18, Taylor and Lawrence will get many more chances in the future. Velani did impress however, and got a well deserved 50 before Essex declared on 471/5.

Napier again took 4 wickets in Cardiff's second innings, as it largely followed the same pattern as the first. Opener Derek Jacob made a well constructed 91, but nobody else could get anything going and the wickets were shared around evenly.

Essex chased the 34 runs needed comfortably for the loss of one wicket, and they will have to be pleased with the performance with both bat and ball heading into the real competition next week.

Cardiff - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
D Jacob         lbw b Napier              10
A Hasting       lbw b Porter              13
A Yates         c Lawrence b Napier       55
M Jowell        b Panesar                 39
N Daley         lbw b Napier              4
G Denny         c & b Napier              8
A Rees          lbw b Panesar             48
M Court         c Velani b Porter         34
G Blair         lbw b Porter              1
D Read          b Porter                  13
J Hemp          not out                   1
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb2,w1,b1,lb4)                     8
TOTAL: (all out, 57.2 overs)              234


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
T Moore         16      1       61      0
J Porter        13.2    2       59      4
G Napier        13      0       55      4
G Smith         3       0       23      0
M Panesar       12      1       31      2
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-24  2-24  3-93  4-93  5-135  
6-150  7-219  8-220  9-225  10-234

Essex - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   b Daley                   137
T Westley       c Jacob b Read            244
C Taylor        c Hemp b Blair            6
D Lawrence      c Jowell b Hemp           7
K Velani        not out                   50
J Foster        c Rees b Read             13
G Smith         not out                   6
G Napier       
J Porter        
M Panesar       
T Moore         
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb2,W2,LB4)                        2
TOTAL: (5 wkts, 128 overs)                471


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
N Daley         23      3       71      1
G Denny         15      2       53      0
A Rees          16      0       71      0
D Read          38      3       136     2
J Hemp          29      1       121     1
D Jacob         1       0       3       0
M Jowell        5       1       11      0
G Blair         1       0       1       1
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-331  2-341  3-356  4-433  5-456

Cardiff - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
D Jacob         c Foster b Napier         91
A Hasting       lbw b Moore               48
A Yates         c Lawrence b Smith        29
M Jowell        lbw b Napier              10
N Daley         c Taylor b Napier         11
G Denny         lbw b Napier              11
A Rees          lbw b Porter              7
M Court         b Moore                   37
G Blair         st Foster b Panesar       11
D Read          b Smith                   6
J Hemp          not out                   0
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb3,w1,lb4)                        8
TOTAL: (all out, 65.3 overs)              269


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
T Moore         13.3    0       49      2
J Porter        16      1       62      1
G Napier        16      1       74      4
M Panesar       16      1       73      1
G Smith         4       1       7       2
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-112  2-165  3-181  4-188  5-204  
6-213  7-220  8-249  9-269  10-269

Essex - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   b Denny                   1
T Westley       not out                   19
C Taylor        not out                   14
D Lawrence      
K Velani       
J Foster       
G Smith       
G Napier       
J Porter        
M Panesar       
T Moore         
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb2,W2,LB4)                        2
TOTAL: (5 wkts, 128 overs)                471


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
N Daley         5.1     0       23      0
G Denny         4       0       10      1
A Rees          1       0       1       0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-3

[MELB52]

LV County Championship vs. Kent


The season begins with Kent making the short trip around the M25 to visit local rivals Essex, at the Essex County Ground. With ten Doeschate and Bopara both playing in the IPL, a middle order slot is opened up for Kishen Velani after his impressive game against Cardiff. The final spot on the teamsheet was between the young seamer Jamie Porter, and the former England international who has fallen on hard times as of late - Monty Panesar. With the early season pitch looking like it will favour the seamers, Porter got the nod to round out the Essex team.

Kent - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
D Bell-Drummond c Ryder b Masters         39
R Key           c Pettini b Masters       20
S Northeast     lbw b Porter              11
B Nash          lbw b Napier              2
S Billings      c Ryder b Topley          78
D Stevens       lbw b Masters             16
J Denly         lbw b Masters             2
F Cowdrey       c Westley b Masters       37
M Coles         c Ryder b Topley          0
A Riley         not out                   0
M Reed          lbw b Masters             0
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb14,w2,lb8)                      24
TOTAL: (all out, 61.5 overs)              229


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
R Topley        17      3       55      2
D Masters       15.5    3       45      6
J Porter        11      1       50      1
G Napier        12      0       48      1
J Ryder         6       0       23      0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-32  2-49  3-58  4-94  5-141  
6-145  7-221  8-221  9-225  10-229

Essex - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   b Coles                   10
T Westley       c Bell-Drummond b Stevens 54
M Pettini       b Reed                    44
J Ryder         lbw b Coles               7
J Foster        c Northeast b Reed        23
K Velani        c Billings b Stevens      14
G Smith         c Northeast b Reed        4
G Napier        c Northeast b Riley       14
D Masters       not out                   5        
J Porter        c Cowdrey b Reed          1
R Topley        st Billings b Riley       6    
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb4,W1)                            5
TOTAL: (all out, 62.2 overs)              187


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
M Coles         15      2       60      2
M Reed          20      1       47      4
D Stevens       14      3       41      2
A Riley         12.2    2       39      2
S Northeast     1       1       0       0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-20  2-112  3-120  4-120  5-143
6-156 7-169 8-175 9-180 10-187

Kent - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
D Bell-Drummond b Topley                  6
R Key           c Velani b Napier         9
S Northeast     c Foster b Porter         22
B Nash          lbw b Topley              3
S Billings      lbw b Smith               57
D Stevens       c Ryder b Porter          12
J Denly         c Foster b Smith          72
F Cowdrey       lbw b Napier              10
M Coles         c Ryder b Smith           1
A Riley         b Porter                  9
M Reed          not out                   4
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb12,lb6)                         18
TOTAL: (all out, 79.1 overs)              223


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
R Topley        15      3       56      2
D Masters       15      5       36      0
G Napier        17      1       53      2
J Porter        16.1    3       41      3
J Ryder         2       0       6       0
G Smith         14      4       25      3

----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-12  2-25  3-46  4-46  5-61  
6-176  7-207  8-208  9-211  10-223

Essex - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   lbw b Coles               0
T Westley       lbw b Stevens             12
M Pettini       c Stevens b Coles         14
J Ryder         c & b Coles               0
J Foster        c Riley b Coles           42
K Velani        b Riley                   47
G Smith         c Billings b Northeast    19
G Napier        c Northeast b Riley       14
D Masters       c Northeast b Riley       5        
J Porter        b Riley                   9
R Topley        not out                   9    
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb2,W1)                            3
TOTAL: (all out, 63.4 overs)              220


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
M Coles         17      1       69      5
M Reed          17      2       53      0
D Stevens       13      1       31      1
R Key           1       0       3       0
A Riley         12.4    2       57      3
S Northeast     3       0       7       1
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-0  2-16  3-16  4-48  5-93
6-127 7-137 8-182 9-209 10-220

Kent win by 45 runs

After winning the toss Essex chose to bowl, and with the score at 120/4 at lunch, this looked to be a good decision. After a great first session, this success continued in the second session where Kent were dismissed for 229. Helped by some great slip catching, the wickets were shared around the seamers, but the clear standout was the veteran David Masters. Masters took 6 wickets as he looks to spearhead the Essex attack for one more season. Whilst no longer having the same pace he used to, he can put the ball on a nagging length and build up pressure to cause batsmen to make mistakes.

Luck looked to be favouring Essex, as Mickleburgh was dropped by Sam Northeast on 1, however Matt Coles took care of that by clean bowling him for just 10. Westley and Pettini rebuilt however, and as day 1 came to a close with the score at 93/1 Essex would have been the happier set of players. The second morning was a different story however, and Essex slipped from 113/1 to 120/4. A few of the lower order chipped in, but when Topley was stumped to bring the innings to a close on 187, Essex were left thinking what could have been.

The Essex seamers came out fired up once again, and had Kent 95/5 at tea on Day 2 with the teenage Porter impressing with figures of 6-2-8-2. Sam Billings however was refusing to go down without a fight, and after batting well in the first innings he again dragged Kent out of a hole. Supported by Joe Denly who batted fantastically himself, Kent looked to set a challenging total. Whilst Smith eventually removed Billings for 57, Kent ended the day on 210/6, a lead of 243. Essex came back strong on the third morning to dismiss Kent quickly for 223, but getting 266 to win would be a real challenge for the home team.

The chase couldn't have started much worse, with Mickleburgh falling second ball of the innings, and Essex could have been 4/2 if Riley held Pettini at first slip. He wasn't made to pay, as Pettini fell quickly for 14, and Jesse Ryder fell the very next ball. James Foster tried to play a captain's innings, and fought valiantly but he was dismissed for 42, and with the score at 93/5 the game looked over. The lower order fought valiantly, but the task proved too much. They dragged Essex to respectability, but Kent did not feel worried at any point.

Speaking to Foster after the game, he made it clear that this is not good enough for a team with aspirations for a championship.

Our bowlers went above and beyond with bat and ball this game, and we as batsmen need to make sure that we back them up next week. We need to have more than one guy reaching 50 in a match, and not fall in the tens and twentys when we have made a start. We need to be more clinical, simple as.

Essex will be working hard to make sure that they improve heading to the Oval next week to play a strong Surrey team with Kevin Pietersen looking to make a statement to the England selectors. The big question around Essex is whether Nick Browne will be fit to come back in at the top of the order, and if not what changes may be made to reinforce the batting lineup.

[MELB52]

LV County Championship @ Surrey


Essex look to bounce back this week as they head into London to take on Surrey. After some thought to bringing in some fresh faces the reinforce the batting, it was decided that the same guys that failed last week would get the chance again this week. The only change that is made is to change up the bowling. With the pitch showing some signs of cracks before play even begins, Panesar comes in to give a front line spin option at the expense of Jamie Porter. That being said, the pitch looks good for batting, and the team winning the toss will almost certainly look to rack up a large total.

Surrey - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
R Burns         c Ryder b Napier          79
Z Ansari        b Panesar                 59
K Sangakarra    c Pettini b Ryder         48
K Pietersen     c Mickleburgh b Topley    78
J Roy           lbw b Topley              21
S Davies        b Napier                  33
G Wilson        b Masters                 45
G Batty         lbw b Topley              16
S Meaker        c Mickleburgh b Ryder     13
J Dernbach      b Topley                  38
M Dunn          not out                   21
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb12,W1,B4,lb5)                   18
TOTAL: (all out, 127.1 overs)             473


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
R Topley      27.1      2       105     4
D Masters       26      3       92      1
G Napier        24      1       114     2
J Ryder         23      4       59      2
M Panesar       21      1       63      1
G Smith          4      0       23      0
T Westley        2      0       8       0

----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-117  2-179  3-213  4-294  5-301  
6-344  7-393  8-399  9-434  10-473

Essex - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   lbw b Batty               138
T Westley       lbw b Batty               45
M Pettini       b Dernbach                12
J Ryder         b Meaker                  14
J Foster        not out                   200
K Velani        c Burns b Dernbach        74
G Napier        c Pietersen b Meaker      6
G Smith         lbw b Batty               35
D Masters       not out                   1        
M Panesar        
R Topley  
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb18,W2,B4,LB1)                   25
TOTAL: (7 wkts, 157 overs)                550


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
S Meaker        41      3       138     2
J Dernbach      33      3       131     2
M Dunn          32      3       122     0
G Batty         34      3       110     3
Z Ansari        16      3       41      0
G Wilson        1       0       3       0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-75  2-99  3-148  4-326  5-472
6-481 7-548

Surrey - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
R Burns         c Foster b Napier         60
Z Ansari        b Panesar                 62
K Sangakarra    not out                   59
K Pietersen     not out                   39
J Roy         
S Davies       
G Wilson       
G Batty        
S Meaker      
J Dernbach    
M Dunn         
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb2,lb7)                           9
TOTAL: (2 wkts, 88 overs)                 229


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
R Topley        25      10      72      0
D Masters       14      3       26      0
G Napier        16      4       42      1
M Panesar       24      7       49      1
G Smith          4      1        8      0
J Ryder          5      1       25      0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-125  2-131

Essex - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   c Ansari b Dernbach       30
T Westley       c Dernbach b Meaker       41
J Ryder         not out                   46
M Pettini       b Meaker                  6
G Napier        b Wilson                  20
J Foster        not out                   10
K Velani        
G Smith         
D Masters               
M Panesar        
R Topley            
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (nb2)                               2
TOTAL: (4 wkts, 16.1 overs)               155


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
S Meaker        7      0        51     2
J Dernbach      5      0        51     1
M Dunn          3      0        39     0
G Wilson      1.1      0        14     1
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-67 2-85 3-91 4-129

Essex win by 6 wickets

Unfortunately for Essex, they lost the toss and the Surrey batsmen must have been delighted with this result. All the Surrey top order looked in good touch, with Essex going wicketless in the first session. It was never looking like Essex's day in the field, with ball just passing fielders. This was topped off when the dangerous Kevin Pietersen when bowled out for just 4, only for Graham Napier to turn around to see the umpire holding out his arm to signal a no ball. The only saving grace for Essex is that whilst every Surrey batsman in the top 7 got to at least 20, nobody really pushed on to get a big hundred. Rory Burns top scored with 79 as Surrey scored 473 all out. It could have been much worse for Essex if it wasn't for Reece Topley taking 3 wickets with the second new ball, ending with figures of 4-105.

Essex came out to bat knowing that they needed to put a big score on the board to both avoid the follow on, and make up for their poor performance last week. At 148-3 the innings could have gone either way, but as James Foster strode to the crease he had in his mind to put into action his words of last week. He did just that, beautifully accompanied by Jaik Mickleburgh, they put on 178 for the 4th wicket. When Mickleburgh eventually fell for 138, Foster just continued racking up the runs, until declaring at 550-7 with 200 runs to his name. With half an hour left to attack the Surrey batsmen on Day 3, Essex hoped to make some inrodes to set up an unlikely result.

Surrey absolutely shut up shop, and a draw looked the only possible result. Reece Topley's first 7 overs were all maidens, as the Surrey batsmen made it abundantly clear that they did not care about getting any runs and were seemingly content with the draw. Surrey scored at just over two runs per over, which made their declaration with an hour to play and a lead of 152.

Essex came out with seemingly nothing to lose, playing with intent knowing that they could always shut up shop am a flurry of wickets fell. Runs started flowing, Mickleburgh and Westley smashed the first two overs and 31 runs were on the board for no wicket. All of a sudden Essex were 60-0 from 6 overs. Wickets fell slowly, bur the runs just kept flowing. It came down to needing 20 runs from the last 3 overs. Jesse Ryder, having been promoted up the order to have a hit, took 18 from that over including 2 massive sixes to leave just 2 runs needed from 2 overs. The runs were seen off the very next ball, with Essex winning by 6 wickets. 155 runs were scored in 16.1 overs, giving Essex a remarkable win. Very few will have seen this result coming at the start of day 4, and there will be some questions being asked throughout the Surrey fanbase this evening.

[GrahamB]

Nice win against Surrey.

[Graham_5000]

Unlucky against Kent - Billings can be devastating! Well done to bounce back against Surrey though.

[MELB52]

LV County Championship vs Gloucestershire

Heading into a match off the back of an improbable win against Surrey, the team remains largely the same. Two changes are made, as Nick Browne returns from injury to replace Mark Pettini at the top of the order, and Porter rejoins the team in place of Panesar. Pettini has fallen from grace in recent years, moving from the captain in all formats of the game to a fringe championship player. Still, he is a useful man to have around and will see plenty of limited over action. Porter and Panesar have been used very interchangably depending on pitch conditions, and the track at Chelmsford once again has a little grass to give the seamers something to work with.

Essex - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   b Howell                  12
N Browne        lbw b Norwell             20
T Westley       c Roderick b Norwell      0
J Ryder         lbw b Howell              29
J Foster        c Cockbain b Fuller       10
K Velani        b Miles                   53
G Smith         lbw b Miles               2
G Napier        c Dent b Fuller           63 
D Masters       b Miles                   14
J Porter        not out                   16       
R Topley        b Norwell                 1         
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (NB14,LB6)                        20
TOTAL: (all out, 92.1 overs)              240


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
C Miles         28      3       65      3
B Howell        27      7       62      2
J Fuller        20      4       71      2
L Norwell       14.1    4       27      3
K Noema-Barnett 3       0       9       0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-37 2-38 3-41 4-61 5-121
6-124 7-176 8-206 9-238 10-240

Gloucestershire - 1st Innings
----------------------------------------------
W Tavare        b Masters                 27
C Dent          b Porter                  27  
G Roderick      c Westley b Porter        2
P Handscomb     b Porter                  18
H Marshall      lbw b Topley              0
K Noema-Barnett c Westley b Topley        2
I Cockbain      b Masters                 116
B Howell        c Foster b Ryder          34
C Miles         not out                   87
L Norwell       c Mickleburgh b Topley    14
J Fuller        b Ryder                   16      
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (NB16,W2,B4)                      22
TOTAL: (all out, 115.5 overs)             365


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
R Topley        30      3       94      3
D Masters       23      3       70      2
G Napier        14      0       62      0
J Porter        28      2       83      3
J Ryder         15.5    3       43      2
G Smith         5       1       9       0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-48 2-56 3-75 4-78 5-80
6-92 7-171 8-303 9-355 10-365

Essex - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
J Mickleburgh   c Cockbain b Miles        28
N Browne        lbw b Howell              33
T Westley       c Roderick b Miles        11
J Ryder         not out                   124
J Foster        c Handscomb b Miles       132
G Napier        not out                   12
K Velani        
G Smith                     
D Masters    
J Porter         
R Topley      
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (NB18,W1,B8,LB8)                  35
TOTAL: (4 wkts, 113 ovrs)                 375


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
C Miles         29      2       95      3
B Howell        34      5       80      1 
J Fuller        23      1       75      0
L Norwell       17      3       74      0
K Noema-Barnett 10      1       35      0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-63 2-79 3-79 4-356

Gloucestershire - 2nd Innings
----------------------------------------------
W Tavare        c Westley b Masters       2
C Dent          c Mickleburgh b Masters   117  
G Roderick      c Velani b Topley         1
P Handscomb     lbw b Napier              31
H Marshall      lbw b Napier              0
K Noema-Barnett c Smith b Masters         47
I Cockbain      not out                   24
B Howell        not out                   7
C Miles        
L Norwell      
J Fuller        
----------------------------------------------
Extras: (NB12,W1,B8,LB1)                  22
TOTAL: (6 wkts, 61.2 overs)               251


**********************************************


                O       M       R       W
----------------------------------------------
R Topley        18      0       67      1
D Masters       16.2    2       36      3
G Napier        12      0       56      0
J Porter        10      0       48      2
J Ryder         5       0       35      0
----------------------------------------------
Fall of Wickets:
1-5 2-8 3-73 4-73 5-180 
6-235

After winning the toss, Gloucestershire decided that they liked the conditions to bowl in, and decided to insert Essex. It was a very tricky first session for Essex, and they finished at 71/4 scoring at just over two runs per over. Much credit must go to Velani and Napier to ensure that Essex ended up with a respectable score. At the tender age of just 21, and only 5 first class games under his belt before this year, he is starting to cement himself in this lineup. Batting with maturity beyond his years, Essex players and fans alike will be hoping that that continues for many years to come.

Chasing a first innings deficit of 240, Chris Dent was dropped in the last over of the day by that man Velani, and the day ended at 20/0 with Gloucestershire clearly winning the day. At lunch the next day, they were 95/6. The young seamers Topley and Porter took 2 and 3 respectively as Gloucestershire looked in trouble at lunch. Unfortunately for the rest of the day, Essex were given the run around by the Gloucestershire lower order. An 8th wicket partnership of 134 was the real killer, and the visitors will be delighted to have ended up with 365.

With Essex needing to make sure that they do not allow Gloucestershire an easy chase, they know that they will once again need to apply themselves much better. At 75/3, there was still danger, but the skipper once again took it upon himself with the bat, and this time supported by Jesse Ryder, they put on 277 for the 4th wicket. Foster eventually fell for a fantastic 132, and with Essex knowing how valuable wins are in this competition, they sent Napier out for a brisk hit before declaring. The innings ended at 375/4, at which point both teams would have felt they were in with a shot.

Essex made the pitch look far better than it was, and at 8/2, and subsequently 4/73 Essex would have been the happier camp. Chris Dent however was putting together a wonderful innings, and when he eventually fell with 20 more runs required, the game was all but over. It came down to the penultimate over, but Gloucestershire had enough to see themselves home for a win that they will be happy with. Essex will be disappointed with the loss, but they have made it clear from the start that they are looking for results and not draws whenever possible, and Foster says he would make the same declaration next match. The focus now shifts somewhat, as the T20 tournament begins.