Essex Vitality CC Div 1 at Chelmsford Loss 2pts

 

12/09

NOTTS RAISE THE WHITE FLAG OF SURRENDER

Notts literally raised the White Flag at sunny Chelmsford this morning conspiring to lose their last 8 wickets for 96 wickets. Essex hammering Notts by an innings by 83 runs losing the game before the delayed lunchtime break. on day four They take a pitiful two points from this fixture.

Harmer (River End) and Cook opened the bowling first thing. It only took Essex until the 4th over to take a wicket. Hameed (105 off 166 balls, 11x4) was lbw to Cook.,185 for 3. The third wicket had added 136 in 41 overs. Experienced Notts watches feared the worst.

In his following over, Cook had Clarke (67) well caught at second slip by Harmer moving to his left, 194 for 4. Two edged fours by Verreynne off Cook took Notts passed 200 in the 64th over. Walter replaced Cook for the 74th over and saw Haynes (8) tamely tap back his third delivery to him, Walter gratefully taking the catch low down to his right, 217 for 5. Two balls later James (0) played a dreadful shot caught by the diving Snater in the covers, 217 for 6. Critchley conceded nine off the 79th over.

The new ball was taken with Notts 237 for 6 off 80 overs. Porter took the new ball. With his third delivery he removed Patterson-White  (10) who trying cut a ball too close to him, edged to Pepper, 238 for 7 in the 81st over. Another wicket literally given away. The Notts 250 came up in the 84th over with a single to Lord off Cook. Harmer returned for the 87th over and with his fourth ball had Lord (21) caught at short leg by Das, 266 for 8. Hapless Fletcher went for a 2 ball duck losing his off stump to Harmer, 266 for 9. Lunch was now put back by 30 minutes. Snater replaced Cook for the 94th over and at 1256 he had Farhan (6) caught behind by Pepper. Notts 281 all out off 93.2 overs with Verreynne stranded on 38. Harmer the chief destroyer with figures of 40 10 93 4. Not a bad game for the South African,  the Essex members bemoaning prior to the game what a bad season he has had!

The Director of Cricket, who spent the game entrenched within the Notts dressing room avoiding the Notts members who have plenty to ponder, particularly over the input Haynes and Tongue have made to the Notts in 2024. They say there are people out there that say there is no such thing as a job for life these days! 

Time now for the team shrink Chris Marshall to earn his corn. We take the positives and move on to Canterbury on Tuesday. MAG

11/09

DIFFICULT DAY FOR NOTTS

Haseeb Hameed century this afternoon after an embarrassment of a morning

Notts trail Essex by 184 runs with 8 second innings remaining after a very difficult third day at Chelmsford. The morning session can be described in one word EMBARRASSING. On a near blameless pitch with sunny overhead conditions Notts collapsed from 48-1 to 93 all out. Simon Harmer bowling from the River End simply got inside the Notts batsmen's heads and reeled off five successive maidens whilst claiming the wickets of McCann and Slater. Porter then came on from the Hayes Close End and just bowling simple line and length, ran through the middle order. The batsmen looked devoid of confidence, spirit and backbone in a quite pathetic effort. Notts were all out before lunch and were made to follow on 364 in negativity. They soon lost Slater and McCann to Harmer, but then came some fight from their best two batsmen Hameed (100 not out off 151 balls, 11x4) and Clarke (62 not out off 124 balls, 6x4, 1x6) who added an unbroken 131 in 37 overs before stumps at 1800. A couple of heavy showers and bad light taking 75 minutes out of the play, as well.

Snater (River End) and Cook shared the bowling first thing this morning and Slater and McCann added 11 runs before a spectacular collapse saw nine wickets fall for 45 runs in 22.5 overs. Harmer came on for the 19th over and had McCann lbw for 11 with his first delivery, 48 for 2. Slater (29) was all at sea against Harmer and it was no surprise when he edged him to Elgar at first slip who took a simple catch, 49 for 3 in the 23rd over. The Notts 50 came up via an edged boundary by Clarke off Cook in the 24th over. Porter came on for the 26th over and had Clarke on 4 dropped in the gully by Critchley, a sitter. Harmer finally conceded a run off his 33rd delivery via an offside single for Haynes. Clarke (13) was lbw to Porter, 63 for 4 in the 28th over. Harmer got his third wicket in the following over having Haynes (1) leg before, 63 for 5 in the 29th over. In the 32nd over, Verreynne (12) was caught by Snater at extra cover off Porter. An extremely loose shot; Notts 77 for 6. James (7) was well held behind by Pepper off Porter; 84 for 7 off 36 overs. Patterson-White hit Harmer for a straight six in the 37th over, the only bright moment of the morning. Fletcher fell for a golden duck plumb leg before to Porter, 90 for 8. Three balls later Patterson-White (8) was lbw to Porter for 93 for 9 in the 38th over. Lord (1) was caught at short leg by Das off Harmer. Notts 93 all out off 40.5 overs. Porter (10-2-35-5) and Harmer (12.5-7-16-4). They had just bowled line and length, the Notts batsmen transfixed like rabbits in headlights, simply rolled over and died.

Notts followed on 364 runs in arrears. Notts 1 for 0 off 1 over with Hameed on 1 and Slater on 0 when lunch came.

Cook was Harmer's new ball partner. But the openers stood firm until the 13th over. Porter had replaced Cook for the 10th over. Slater (8) was then bowled by a turning delivery from Harmer, 31 for 1. Snater came on from the Hayes Close End for the 18th over, Hameed caressing his opening delivery to the cover fence. McCann (4) was the second batsman to fall lbw to Harmer, 49 for 2 after 19 overs. McCann never looked comfortable against the South African off spinner. At this juncture it looked Essex would win with a day to spare.  Clarke and Hameed then put the wicket into perspective by making relatively untroubled progress to the close.

A quick single for Hameed off Snater took Notts to 50 in the 20th over. Hameed reached his a classy 50 off 70 balls with a single off Harmer in the 25th over. Critchley came on for the 26th over. A short heavy shower stopped play at 1504 with Essex 98 for 2 in the 33rd over with Hameed on 64 and Clarke on 16. Tea was immediately taken with play was due to start at 1600 before another ten minute heavy shower hit New Writtle Street.

Play eventually restarted at 1635 in bright sunshine with 17 overs lost. Cook was now Harmer's bowling partner. In the 41st over, Clarke hit Harmer for six over mid wicket. Walter came on for the 44th over. Harmer finally came off from the River End, Critchley replacing him for the 45th over, a single to mid on by Hameed taking to 1,000 runs for the season. Bad light stopped play at 1730 with Notts 148 for 2 off 49 overs with Hameed on 90 and Clarke on 41.

Play resumed at 1736 with Harmer switching to the Hayes Close End. Clarke reached his 50 off 105 balls with a cover driven boundary off Critchley in the 51st over. Porter returned conceded 11 runs in the 54th over with boundaries for Clarke and Hameed. At 1745 with 15 minutes still to play the two Notts batsmen comically started walking off as the scoreboard stated zero overs remaining. With Harmer bowling virtually all day, Essex were 10 plus on the over rate. Harmer then went back to the River End. In the final over, an offside single for Hameed off Porter got him to his deserved ton off 151 balls. His front foot technique capable of playing Mr Harmer. Notts 180 for 2 off 56 overs at the close with a huge mountain still to climb. MAG

Lancashire have accrued 1 bonus point in their game against Durham. Both Lancashire and Notts end day three in similarly precarious positions.

10/09

PEPPER TON PROLONGS NOTTS AGONY

as Essex add another 195 runs in 44 overs

Only 55.3 overs were possible on another cool and predominately dank day at Chelmsford. Essex continued to dominate the game with Notts looking at times hang dog in the field. Leading the way was Michael Pepper who scored a career best 115 (off 147 balls, 12x4, 1x6) sharing a seventh wicket stand of 133 with Simon Harmer (51 off 112 balls, 5x4, 1x6). A late slog saw Essex lose their last 4 wickets for 27 runs. A positive to take what that the inexperienced trio of Lord (3-88), Farhan (3-102) and McCann took seven of the wickets to fall. Notts only batted for 65 balls but lost Hameed to a careless shot and trailed Essex by a massive 420 runs when stumps were prematurely drawn.

Patterson-White and Farhan bowled first thing with very light rain falling. The new ball was taken with Essex 279 for 5 with 80 overs. Rain stopped play at 1051 with Essex 279 for 5 off 80.2 overs with Westley on 116 and Pepper on 28.

Play recommenced at 1130 with ten overs lost. In the 84th over, Westley (122 off 241 balls, 9x4) playing-on to Lord, 297 for 6. A deserved wicket for Lord in his second championship game. Notts though failed to make a further incision and the partnership between Pepper and Harmer took out any chance of Notts winning this encounter. Pepper very lucky to survive an appeal for a stumping off Patterson-White late on day one.

A single for Harmer off Lord brought up the 300 in the 86th over. James replaced Lord for the 88th over but after a long season with the ball he has looked tired and jaded in this encounter. Lord replaced Fletcher for the 91st over from the Hayes Close End and a cover driven boundary by Pepper off him brought up his 50 off 79 balls. Patterson-White came on for the 92nd over. Farhan came on for the 95th over with Harmer hitting him for a straight six. Essex 349 for 6 off 97 overs at lunch with Pepper on 61 and Harmer on 21.  Essex having much the better of the shortened first session.

In the first over after lunch, a single for Harmer off Patterson-White saw Essex to 350. Lyndon James came on for the 99th over. Patterson-White's conceded 14 runs in the 100th over with two boundaries for Harmer and one for Pepper. The Kookaburra ball had now lost its shine and both batsmen were looking very comfortable, Lord replaced James for the 107th over. Lord briefly reverted to a short ball barrage being no balled twice. The Essex 400 came up in the 108th over with a swept four by Pepper off Patterson-White. Farhan returned for the 110th over, Essex 422 for 6, two bowling points for Notts. In the 111th over, a single for Harmer off Lord saw him to his first 50 of 2024 off 103 balls. Pepper reached his ton off 135 balls with a quick single off Farhan in the 112th over. McCann was belatedly given his first bowl in the 113th over and took a wicket with his sixth delivery bowling Harmer who was attempting a reverse sweep, 430 for 7 after 113 overs. Snater going for a wild slog was bowled off stump by Farhan, 441 for 8 in the 116th over. Patterson-White returned for the 117th over. In the 118th over, Cook (5) was stumped by Verreynne off Farhan, 453 for 9. Pepper (115) was last man to fall bowled by Patterson-White. Essex, 86-4 at one stage, 457 all out off 118.3 overs. Porter 0 not out. Notts could take heart from the efforts of the younger brigade, the bowling attack though struggling to take wickets with the second new ball.

Porter and Cook shared the new ball. In the 4th over, a poor loose shot from Hameed (8) saw him caught at backward point by Benkenstein off Cook,  19 for 1. With dark clouds overhead, Harmer and Critchley came on for the 5th and 6th overs respectively. Bad light stopped play at 1527 with Notts 21 for 1 in the 5.2 overs with Slater on 12 and McCann on 0. Tea was immediately taken.

No play was lost with play resuming 20 minutes later. With the light now temporarily much better. Snater came on for the 7th over and for the 8th over. Bad light stopped play at 1608 with Notts 37 for 1 after 10.5 overs with Slater on 26 and McCann on 2. Light rain then soon fell for 30 minutes but the light did not improve sufficiently with play abandoned at 1730. Notts face a very testing day tomorrow. The forecast for Wednesday and Thursday is much better albeit much colder. MAG

09/09

WESTLEY CENTURY PUTS ESSEX ON TOP

on a first day of frustration for Notts

Essex finished a truncated opening day at Chelmsford in a dominant position closing on 262 for 5 off 74 overs after Notts won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked like ideal conditions with heavy cloud cover and a green pitch.

After early morning drizzle, play commenced at 1142 with 10 overs lost.  Fletcher came in for Hutton in the only change from the Surrey fixture.

Fletcher (Hayes Close End) and Lord took the new ball. In the 6th over, Elgar (7) skied Lord to Hameed at mid on who held the catch on his knees diving low to his right, 17 for 1. Das hit Fletcher for two fours through third man in the 9th over which went for 12. There was a long stoppage after Fletcher hit Westley with a very painful blow to his nether region. Essex went to lunch on 40 for 1 off 11 overs with Das on 14 and Westley on 9.

James replaced Lord immediately after lunch from the River End. The Essex 50 came up in the 13th over. In the 14th over, Das (20) was well caught at second slip, to his left by McCann off James, 56 for 2. Fletcher got a delivery to jag back-in and he bowled Critchley (5) who offered no shot, 73 for 3 off 19 overs. Benkenstein then came in on his first class debut. Lord returned for the 20th over with the floodlights being switched on. Lord got one to shoot up and it found the edge of Benkenstein's (4) bat, Verreynne taking the catch,  86 for 4 after 22 overs. Lord impressing once more, Notts' best bowler today. Notts looked in a strong position but Walter joined Westley in the middle, after riding their luck early doors, added 142 in 42 overs for the fifth wicket. Walter the aggressor and Westley the accumulator. Batting became much easier as the Kookaburra ball lost it's shine.

After his marathon spell, Fletcher (13 4 40 1) who deserved more than his single wicket made way for James with the Essex 100 coming up in the opening over (27th) of his new spell. Farhan Ahmed replaced Lord for the 30th over. A legside single for Westley off Farhan got him to his 50 off 79 balls. Fletcher after a short rest returned for the 35th over, James was wayward in his opening spell with too many legside deliveries. The Essex 150 was achieved in the 37th over. Fletcher bowled a two over spell for 11 and was replaced by Patterson-White. Bad light stopped play at 1515 with Essex on 161 for 4 off 39 overs with Westley on 69 and Walter on 35. Tea was immediately taken.

The last session was very stop/start. Play resumed at 1546 with three overs lost,.Lord bowled one over and after some deliberation bad light stopped play once more at 1551. Essex 166 for 4 off 40 overs with Westley on 70 and Walter on 39. 

Play restarted at 1608 with another five overs lost with James bowling from the Hayes Close End. Fletcher returned for the 45th over. A pulled boundary by Walter off Lord saw him to 50 off 65 balls in the 48th over. The sun suddenly burst through briefly after hours of dank and cool conditions. Farhan and Patterson-White came back for the 50th and 51st overs respectively and bowled unchanged for the remainder of the day. Walter hit Patterson-White for a straight six in the 51st over. Farhan and Patterson-White started to slow the run rate down a little and the big hitting tall Walter was clearly getting a tad frustrated. The dark skies soon returned and bad light stopped play at 1723 with Essex 222 for 4 off 59.5 overs with Westley on 89 and Walter on 72.

Play resumed again at 1738 with a further four overs lost. Walter  (72 off 106 balls, 10x4, 1x6) finally lost his patience and attempting to hit Farhan through cow corner, miscued him and was caught in the gully by Patterson-White,  228 for 5 in the 64th over. Westley got to his 100 in 193 balls via five overthrows off Farhan in the 66th over. Hitting the ball to mid wicket, Hameed picked up the ball and almost ran out Pepper with a direct throw but he just missed the stumps and the ball went through to the boundary. Essex reached 250 in the 71st over. Pepper hit Farhan for six over mid wicket in the final over. Stumps were drawn with Essex on 262 for 5 with Westley on 108 (off 214 balls, 8x4) and Pepper on 21. MAG

Those of us watching on the live stream will know that Kyle Verreynne had stumped Michael Pepper off Patterson-White but the umpire must have lost concentration as well at that point and missed it. Perfectly timed, clear as day stumping. Well done Essex for showing all the camera angles. HBD

Meanwhile at Chester le Street, Lancashire closed the day on 177/6.

08/09

The traveling Notts players

Hasseb Hameed

Farhan Ahmed

Joe Clarke

Luke Fletcher

Jack Haynes

Brett Hutton

Rob Lord

Freddie McCann

Matt Montgomery

Liam Patterson-White

Toby Pettman

Ben Slater

Kyle Verreynne

Essex squad:

Tom Westley

Ben Allison

Luc Benkenstein

Sam Cook

Matt Critchley

Robin Das

Dean Elgar

Simon Harmer

Michael Pepper

Jamie Porter

Shane Snater

Noah Thain

Paul Walter

06/09

Mr Moores will be riding the crest of the wave of optimism brought about by the two youngsters Freddie McCann and Farhan Ahmed and by the overseas wicketkeeper, Kyle Verreynne. But, can he maintain his balance?

A balanced mind, a balanced team and a balanced sense of perspective???

Notts need to out (bonus points) score Lancashire on a match to match basis to retain division one status, with only a small safety margin. So how is Mr Moores going to eliminate mistakes, pick-up bonus points and perhaps win two matches from the final three games, when we've only won one game all season?

He could ask our CEO for advice, as she's now a self-appointed expert on all Nottinghamshire cricketing matters.

Lancashire's run-in - crunch time

09/09 Durham (a)

17/09 Somerset (h)

26/09 Worcestershire (a)