Essex Rothesay County Championship Div 1 at [add sponsor] County Ground Chelmsford Win 22 pts

 

21/06

Day 3

TERRIERESQUE O'NEILL SIGNS-OFF WITH AN ESSEX BEATING 5-FER

as Notts doggedly gnaw away at Essex 

Notts as expected completed the job at Chelmsford today winning this critical championship contest by an innings and 52 runs at 16:58 this afternoon to go top of the County Championship.


On another boiling hot day O'Neill and Hutton were bowling first thing in the morning. In the third over of the morning and the ninth over of the innings, nightwatchman Bennett (5) edged O'Neill to backward point, with Slater taking a simple catch; 24 for 3. Stone and Patterson-White replaced O'Neill and Hutton for the 17th and 18th overs respectively. Essex got to 50 after 20 overs with a four through mid wicket by Elgar off Patterson-White. Elgar (42) was lbw to a delivery from Stone that looked quite high; umpires call! Essex 65 for 4 in the 27th over. Elgar never looking comfortable against the former England bowler. Stone after a testing good spell of 7 4 10 1 was replaced by Hutton from the Hayes Close End for the 31st over. Essex skipper Westley (19 off 72 balls) was happy with crease occupation but Patterson-White got his man for the second time in the match in identical fashion to the first innings. Westley being caught at first slip by McCann diving to his right off a turning delivery; 75 for 5 in the 34th over. Essex 81 for 5 off 36 overs at lunch with Allison on 1 and Critchley on 2. An attritional but good morning for Notts, Essex scoring 68 for the loss of three wickets in 30 overs.


O'Neill and Patterson-White were bowling after lunch and Critchley and Allison looked relatively comfortable for the first 40 minutes of the session. Stone relieved O'Neill for the 45th over. Patterson-White picked up his second wicket when he had Critchley (13), playing a defensive prod, caught behind by Verreynne, 109 for 6 in the 46th over. McCann came on for the 55th over. Allison hitting him for a straight six. In his following over, Allison hit McCann for another six over this time mid wicket. Essex 150 for 6 off 57 overs. McCann proved expensive with his three overs costing 27 runs - James having his first bowl of the innings replaced him. Allison got to his 50 off 97 balls with a single off Patterson-White in the 62nd over. Allison and Benkenstein had added an innings high partnership of 65 runs in 20 overs for the 7th wicket when Allison (56) was lbw on his back leg to Patterson-White; 174 for 7 in the 66th over. Pepper departed for a 7 ball duck caught by McCann diving to his right at first slip off James; 175 for 8 in the 67th over. Essex 181 for 8 off 70 overs at tea Benkenstein 31 and Harmer 2. Notts chipping away on what was now a slow pitch with inconsistent bounce; the pitch being used for this match being a hybrid one.


Harmer and Benkenstein managed to last until the new ball was taken, Stone replacing James (7 1 16 1) for the 75th over. The new ball was taken with Essex 214 for 8 off 80 overs. After three deliveries with the new ball, Benkenstein (42) popped O'Neill to Hutton who took the catch low down at mid off; 214 for 9. The ninth wicket added 39 in 14 overs. Patterson-White (36 10 66 3) who had a superb match was kept on with the new ball in an attempt to get his first ever 10 wicket match haul but only had one over with the new cherry and had to settle with match figures of 52.4 14 109 9. He is Notts leading wicket taker in 2026 with 32 wickets @23.71. Patterson-White had exhibited good control and stamina throughout the first half of the season.


O'Neill finished with a five wicket haul having Harmer lbw for 27. O'Neill with figures of 13.5 2 39 5 and Essex 221 all out off 82.5 overs with Snater 3 not out. O'Neill now departs Notts having taken 26 wickets @16.38 and 285 runs @57.00 in 5 championship games. He will certainly be missed.


Notts had completely outplayed the leaders throughout the contest and currently head the table. They will be looking to see what happens at Taunton tomorrow with considerable interest. MAG

20/06

Day 2

CENTURION HAYNES STEERS NOTTS TO STRONG POSITION

Notts had a fantastic second day at Chelmsford with Essex closing with a deficit of 260 with eight second innings wickets standing. Notts supporters went into the day hoping that Notts could get a lead approaching three figures.  Thanks though to Jack Haynes (137 not out off 206 balls, 15x4) and Fergus O’Neill (61 off 50 balls, 9x4, 2x6) and useful cameos from Lyndon James, Liam Patterson-White and Olly Stone Notts achieved a collasal lead of 273.

Porter (Hayes Close End) and Snater opened up first thing in cloudy conditions as Notts made a slow start. It was Pride Day in Chelmsford and the music was blaring out from the nearby Central Park. A band marched close to the ground and as the trombone was playing 'In the Navy', Clarke (27), all at sea, was caught and bowled by Snater; 118 for 3 in the 44th over. Were Notts entering choppy waters? With Hameed struggling for runs with the Essex bowlers giving little away. Indeed, Notts only scored 28 off 15 overs in the first hour of play.

Haynes on 17 survived a stumping chance off Harmer in the 58th over. It proved to be extremely expensive error by Pepper. Hameed (89 off 204 balls, 11x4) was dropped at slip by Walter off Harmer. But it disturbed him and the very much next ball he threw his wicket away caught by Critchley at long on off Harmer; 153 for 4 in the 60th over. It though had been fine innings, by far his best of the season played in very testing conditions. Haynes put his foot on the accelerator and added 44 for the 5th wicket in 10 overs with Notts taking the lead. Critchley got through a quick over from the Hayes Close End and allowed Essex a bonus over and Harmer cashed in by removing Verreynne (11) with his first delivery. The off spinner who toiled through-out most of the morning from the River End had Verreynne caught by Westley one handed, diving forward from short leg. Lunch was taken with Notts 197 for 5 off 69.1 overs with Haynes on 48. Notts had added 86 runs in the morning session for the loss of three wickets.

Notts and Jack Haynes in particular dominated the afternoon session which put Notts in a strong position. With the sun beating down, James going through a tough spell of late had a nervous start to his innings. Haynes reached a 73 ball 50 with a single off Harmer in the 72nd over. Haynes on 54 was dropped by Walter at slip off Critchley in the 75th over -Essex  literally throwing the game away. James was playing a key support role and was slowly looking more confident hit two consecutive fours off Harmer in the 80th over. The new ball was immediately taken with Notts 231 for 5 off 80 overs by Porter and Snater. The game was now entering a key phase but Notts found the new ball easier to hit and the run rate increased.

A four through square leg by Haynes off Snater took Notts to 250 off 82 overs. James (40) was lbw to Harmer,  293 for 6 in the 94th over. The 6th wicket had added 96 in 24 overs to well and truly put Notts in the ascendancy.

In the 95th over, a quick offside single for Haynes off Bennett took him to his ton off 144 balls. Later in the same over, he hit a four through wide third man to take Notts to their second batting point. The last ball Haynes cover drove Bennett to the cover boundary. O'Neill hit Harmer for a straight six in the 96th over. Three balls later O'Neill found the cover ropes, 11 off the over. O'Neill hit Bennett for a legside four and two balls later for a six over square leg; 11 off the 97th over. Notts 344 for 6 off 102 overs at tea with Haynes on 111 and O'Neill on 38. Notts had scored 147 runs for the loss of James off 32.5 overs - a match deciding session?

A four through mid wicket by O'Neill off Critchley took Notts to 350 in the 104th over. O'Neill got to his 50 off 44 balls with a four through long on off Critchley in the 107th over. O'Neill hit successive fours off Snater,  11 off the 107th over. O'Neill (61) going for the 4th batting point charged Critchley and was stumped,  377 for 7 in the 108th over. The 7th wicket stand was worth 84 off 14 overs with Haynes taking a backseat role as O'Neill attacked the tiring Essex bowlers with relish.

Patterson-White hit Critchley for six over long on, 14 off the 110th over. Notts 393 for 7 at the bonus point cut off. Patterson-White hit Harmer for successive boundaries through extra cover to bring up the Notts 400 in the 111th over. Patterson-White (25) skied Harmer to be caught at extra cover by Snater, 406 for 8 in the 113th over. Hutton (5) on the sweep top edged Critchley and was caught at second slip by Harmer; 419 for 9 in the 116th over. Stone hit Harmer for six over mid wicket in the 117th over. Stone (30) skied Harmer to mid wicket where Snater took the catch. The last wicket stand added 38 off 10 overs. Haynes with 137 not out provided the glue that held innings together - an invaluable knock.  Notts 457 all out. Notts led by 273 runs after the first innings. Harmer 45 overs 5 for 165 his first five wicket innings haul since 2023. Snater 3 for 62 provided the most threat.

The heavy roller came on with the wicket getting slower today. O'Neill (Hayes Close End) started with a no ball, then a dot then got Walter to play on for a duck (2 for 1). Patterson-White shared the new ball. Nightwatchman Porter (1) was caught by Haynes at third slip, a second wicket for O'Neill , 8 for 2 in the 3rd over. The second nightwatchman Charlie Bennett (0 not out) came in to join Elgar (10 not out) at the crease with Essex closing on 13 for 2 off 6 overs. The day had finished at 18:01 - for once no extra time!

What a day for Notts. With the wicket getting easier Essex will surely offer more resistance with the bat tomorrow? MAG

19/06

PATTERSON-WHITE BEST TURNS MATTERS TO NOTTS' ADVANTAGE

Day 1

After an action packed first day at sweltering Chelmsford, Notts trial Essex by 73 runs with eight first innings wickets still standing.

Essex won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket that had clearly been prepared to suit Essex spinners Harmer and Critchley. Verreynne and Stone came in for Ali and Pennington. Surprisingly Farhan was not included in the Eleven. Essex were without Jordan Cox and the injured Simon Cook. Wiaan Mulder was unavailable as he was playing in the US T20.

O'Neill (Hayes Close End) and Hutton opened the bowling and initially Essex openers Elgar and Walter looked relatively secure. In front of a large crowd, temperatures touching 30 degrees and with the crumbling old ground unchanged in the last 40 years, it had feel of championship cricket of my youth in the 1970s and 1980.

A legside four by Elgar off O'Neill got Essex finally off the mark after 27 balls. Elgar (12) though failed to compose a large innings being lbw to Hutton; 23 for 1 in the 10th over. Stone replaced O'Neill for the 13th over and with his sixth delivery got one to lift and found the edge of Walter's (12) bat, Verreynne taking the catch, 31 for two. 

Westley and Allison added 56 in 16 overs for the third wicket. James came on for the 16th over. Westley hit three fours off the first four James deliveries, 13 off the 20th over. O'Neill replaced Stone for the 25th over. Patterson-White came on for James in the 26th over. James 5 0 24 0 was not to bowl again. The slow left armer bowled superbly and totally changed the day. In his third over he had top scorer Westley (44)  well caught by McCann diving low to his right at first slip ; 87 for 3 off 29.2 overs and Allison on 13 not out. Lunch was immediately taken. An even morning.

Notts had a superb start to the second session. Crichley played the ball to Hameed at cover and went for a suicidal single, with Allison (19) failing to beat Hameed's  throw with Verreynne whipping off the bails; 93 for 4 off 32 overs. A bonus wicket and a massive turning point.

Next over, Critchley (1) was lbw hit on his back pad by O'Neill,  95 for 5 in the 33rd over. Essex had lost three wickets for 8 runs. Benkenstein and Pepper added 33 in seven overs for the 6th wicket. Pepper cover drove two boundaries off three O'Neill balls, 11 off the 37th over. Next over, Pepper swept successive boundaries to long leg off Patterson-White; 10 off the over. The following over, Hutton replaced O'Neill from the Hayes Close End. Pepper's (24 off 26 balls) attacking cameo came to the end when he was smartly caught at second slip by James off Patterson-White; 128 for 6 in the 40th over. In his next over, Patterson-White got one to turn and bowled Harmer's (1) off stump, 130 tor 7 in the 42nd over. Five balls later, Benkenstein got a thin edge to Patterson-White and he was caught by Verreynne;  133 tor 8 after 42 overs. In another mini collapse Essex had lost three wickets for five runs in 14 balls. Three wickets for LPW in 8 balls.

Snater gave it the long handle. Stone came back for the 46th over. Snater launched Patterson-White for a straight six, eight off the 46th over. Snater hit Patterson-White for a huge six over long on in the 50th over. Bennett hit three successive fours off Stone through cover, a pulled through long leg and a slog just over mid wicket; 15 off the 51st over. The 9th wicket had added 44 when Bennett (21) was caught at second slip by James, a fifth wicket for Patterson-White; 177 for 9  in the 56th over. Snater (31) hit Patterson-White for a straight six in the 58th over; just two balls later going for another big hit was bowled middle and off by Patterson-White.  Essex 184 off 57.4 overs. Porter 0 not out. Patterson-White with a career best 16.4 4 43 6. An outstanding effort. Tea was taken between the innings.

Notts had 38 overs to bat in a long last session. Porter (Hayes Close End) and Snater opened the bowling. Hameed, so out of form in 2026, played his best innings of the season, leading by example on a tricky surface tailor made for local hero Harmer.

Hameed went for his shots hitting four boundaries in the 19 balls. Slater (0) fell for a six ball duck getting an edge to Snater with keeper Pepper taking the catch; 20 for 1 in the 4th over. With Harmer coming on for the 8th over, Notts fans feared the worst. But Hameed coolly cover drove him for four.  McCann then reverse swept Harmer for four. Snater came on from the Hayes Close End for the 13th over. A two for Hameed off Harmer took Notts past 50 in the 14th over. McCann (16) was bowled off stump by Snater; 55 for 2 in the 17th over. Hameed and Clarke batted diligently whilst adding an unbroken 56 in the remaining 21 overs of a boiling hot day.

Bennett came on for the 23rd over replacing Snater, a cover driven four through the covers took Hameed to a high class 50 off 79 balls. Harmer after a ten over spell from the River End made way for Critchley. A legside four for Hameed off Critchley took Notts to three figures in the 32nd over. Snater returned for the 33rd over. Harmer came back for the 36th over to bowl two more overs. Stumps were drawn at 18:12 with Notts 111 for 2 off 38 overs with Hameed on 68 and Clarke on 25. Incredibly so far no wickets for Harmer, that will change. Notts having to bat last on a tricky wicket will be looking to get a decent lead.

Notts had had a brilliant day with Hameed and Patterson-White the undoubted stars. MAG

18/06

So is that an admission of a mistake by those at the top?

Farhan in for Ali, the only change to the squad of 13 from the squad last week.

Haseeb Hameed c

Ben Slater

Freddie McCann

Joe Clarke

Jack Haynes

Kyle Verreynne x

Lyndon James

Liam Patterson-White

Fergus O'Neill

Brett Hutton

Olly Stone

Farhan Ahmed

Dillon Pennington

6 batsmen plus the three all rounders

17/06

Victories are few and far between and defeats are rarer in 2026 but a string of losses would end the season prematurely for Notts. So, we have to bounce back from a poor performance on and off the field the last time out.

Play better and have the right balance of players playing better too.

On form and by performance only Fergus would retain his spot in the eleven from the Somerset defeat, but clearly more runs are required and five seamers won't be necessarily be the way forward again.

The out of form forecasters are saying it's going to a hot weekend, especially down south, so I've added a second full time spin option to the previous squad [Hameed on gives Freddie one over per innings], but it remains to be seen what Peter does and if anyone has picked up an injury from getting thrashed earlier in the week.

Essex are now at the top of the heap, so perhaps that will encourage them to roll out something other than a road...

Last week's squad:

Haseeb Hameed c

Ben Slater

Freddie McCann

Joe Clarke

Jack Haynes

Kyle Verreynne x

Lyndon James

Liam Patterson-White

Fergus O'Neill

Brett Hutton

Olly Stone

Dillon Pennington

Mohammad Ali

+

Farhan Ahmed