Story Essex's English Premier League Escapades

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 1; Session 1
​

Here we are back in Chelsmford. The sun is shining and the pitch is pristine and hard and dusty and a bat first pitch. You definitely want to win the toss and bat first on this pitch. Surrey won it and elected to do just that as they looked to bounce back from their 9 wicket defeat to Hampshire. Essex were unchanged and ready for another first morning of toil...

And toil it proved for the most part. The only reason we took three wickets is because the Surrey batsmen kindly donated them. Porter and Beard started up and caused issues for Burns and less so for Harinath. It didn't matter as the openers rode out the new ball spell and put on 50 before ten Doeschate and Bopara put on the squeeze. Bopara helping to squeeze the rate is the only reason I can offer for Harinath trying to smack a standard ball from Tendo down the ground. He couldn't get it much past mid-off and Nick Browne took the catch to bring the in the one and only Sangakkara. He looked good at times early on but with Bopara keeping it tight he always felt gettable. In the end he donated his wicket in much the same way Harinath did as he tried to loft Harmer down the ground and instead lofted it to mid-on where Varun Chopra accepted the gift. Sanga out for 22 felt like a big one. Wilson became the third batsman to perish playing down the ground as he to gave away a catch to Chopra at mid-on. This could be claimed by the bowler a bit more though as it was a change of pace that seemed to do it and the catch was a very good low-down one. Surrey ended the session on 138-3 and will be slightly annoyed to have given away such wickets on a quite blameless batting surface. Burns has played well for his 66 so far and will be hoping he and Jason Roy can turn an average start into an excellent one in the afternoon session

Simon Harmer in the wickets again then and proving to be a vital cog in the Essex wheel. Beard bowled very well in his spell while for some reason the Surrey batsmen could just not get Ravi away. With the ball not really doing much so far and hardly any edges of note Essex will be pleased to have pried out three Surrey wickets already. I'd say the home side are just about ahead.

You can watch the whole session here to see if you agree or not.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 1; Session 2
​

A session Essex squeaked before lunch. Surrey would be looking to the set Burns and the explosive Roy to put them into a commanding position before tea...

However it was Essex who were in the commanding position when the umpires called tea having taken 4 wickets for a 109 runs in the session.

The Eagles opened the afternoon session with their spin duo and it took just two overs for each of them to claim a wicket. First of all Roy got an inside edge to leg-gully off a top-spinning Harmer delivery, just the fourth ball post-lunch, before Lawrence's slider found a way through a wanting Ansari's defensive and castled him. Two wickets in two overs and Surrey were reeling at 143-5. Foakes, who had been Surrey's best player last time out against Hampshire, set about rebuilding with Burns who was eyeing his century. The introduction of Tom Westley, seldom thrown the ball in the previous two matches, stopped the Surrey opener in his tracks. Tendo's feelings that the pitch was aiding the spinners was borne out as Westley flighted an off-spinner and invited Burns to take a swipe. The batsman didn't need a second invitation and came forward but instead edged the ball into the pitch and into the waiting gloves of Foster. In a flash the bails were off and Burns was stumped just 19 shy of his 100. Still no batsman has scored a century against Essex yet and with that breakthrough Essex were well on top.

Curran and Foakes set about with a better rebuilding project before a returning Porter bounced Curran who could only divert the ball to Adam Wheater at slip. Surrey captain Gareth Batty came out for rebuilding project number 3 and this one at least stuck as he and Foakes steered Surrey to 247-7 at tea, only three runs shy of the first bonus point. He'd have been expecting so much more when winning the toss this morning though.

Wickets for all the spinners and good returns from Porter and Beard. Tom Westley's first extended spell of the season was a good one and makes the slightly more expensive spells of Tendo and Lawrence less of an issue. Essex well ahead of the curve at tea then and will be hoping that Bops and Harmer can get one of these two out before the new ball comes. If that happens shooting Surrey out for under 300 should be very possible but where there is Foakes there is hopes. He is just two shy of a 50 and with Gareth Batty at the other end no slouch with the bat both of them will be aiming for 300 and beyond.

An enthralling session is here for those who like to watch part-time spinners take wickets.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 1; Session 3
​

Into the evening session and Essex wanted Surrey to abandon all Foakes. He wanted a fifty and bonus points...

Job done for the Essex boys as they shunted Surrey out for under 300 despite Gareth Batty turning into a proper little nemesis. Foakes went to his fifty with a lovely shot down the ground to Simon Harmer but then the very next ball he inside-edged an arm ball onto his pads. I appealed coz I always do when the ball is hitting the pads and wouldn't you know it the umpire's finger went up and Foakes had been sawn off for just 52. He could feel mightily aggrieved by that especially as it ended any hopes of an extra Surrey batting bonus point. Gareth Batty tried his darndest to earn it but Meaker and Footit could not stick around. Meaker hitting Ravi out to cover for Tom Westley while Footit edged Beard behind just after the new ball had been taken. 285 all out then. A very average display with the bat for Surrey.

Everybody took a wicket which is nice when you get a side out below 300 and you're the captain. Harmer was obviously the pick of the bowlers but all the figures look pretty decent (Lawrence and Tendo's economies aside). So with 16 overs left of the day all Essex had to do was bat to close without losing a wicket.

fearsome tweak Gareth Batty man. fearsome tweak him. Four balls left in the day and Chopra goes for a sweep that bounces off short leg in a way that makes Curran dance look a lunatic. Didn't stop him taking the rebounded catch though. *sigh*. Still 21 for Chopra and a 38 run opening partnership is pretty good for Essex and they are well in the box seat at the moment. A long day of batting tomorrow would go a good way to setting up a third win in a row but Gareth Batty is always lurking...

Unfortunately Ben Foakes wicket got sawn off from the commentary which is ironic but the rest of the session post him is all here...

 

[Wavelberry]

Just for my (thousands obviously) of fans this is not dead or anything. I am just visiting my family for the moment and despite my Mum living in London rather than some sort of backwater she has no internet at her house which means either hotspots or nothing. Expect Day 2 to resume towards the end of the month when I stop taking my nephews to the park to play real cricket and return home to sit in a darkened room and make virtual Nick Browne bat at a <25 SR.

 

[Wavelberry]

Oh my God we're back and the new session is kicking off on Twitch in 5...

Click link to see how we go...

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 2; Session 1
​

Back then with a mammoth 45 over session as the Umpires never wanted to take lunch. Would Essex be back to their winning groove or would the hiatus prove to be costly...

Erm well... For the first time this season Essex are behind the 8 ball with regards to the match situation and it's going to need some real grit to get them out of it. A session with 180 runs and 6 wickets wasn't short on entertainment but it was short on an Essex batsman taking the game by the scruff of the neck and as a result things are now precariously poised for the home side.

Westley and Browne started decently enough with Browne being his usual circumspect self and Westley playing some glorious back foot shots but he could only make 23 before toe ending a cut to Curran at slip. This bought out Ravi Bopara who has been in such awesome form and he proved it by punishing Meaker and Footit. Such was his domination that he made 35 off of just 19 balls and looked like steering Essex to Surrey's total in double-quick time but ball number 20 got up higher than he was prepared for and took an edge to the keeper off an attempted cutshot. Things got worse just 7 runs later when Browne played at a ball down leg towards leg but ended up getting a leading edge to slip as Meaker cut the ball prodigiously. 120-4 and things were starting to look a little bit dodgy as the captain came out to join Dan Lawrence. Dangerous Dan didn't live up to his name as he played with caution but at the other end Tendo was going for his shots and made a brisk 28 before another bouncer from Footit was gloved up high to a waiting Foakes. Another batsman out in the 20s. Adam Wheater didn't even get that far as he played far too late at a turning ball from Batty before James Foster found himself run-out when sent back by Lawrence for just 1. 189-7 and things were threatening to get out of hand but Lawrence doubled down with the support of Simon Harmer to add 29 more runs before lunch and leave Essex 67 runs adrift of Surrey's total at the break.

Footit and Meaker may have taken wickets but their scatter-gun pace bowling has proved to be expensive but with Curran proving to be more parsimonious along with Batty (who is also taking wickets) it's not proving to be too much of a problem. Surrey are well set up for a lead if they can break this pair up. Harmer has shown form with the bat and obviously Lawrence is key but if Surrey can nab one of them early there shouldn't be too much resistance from Beard and Ports. With Essex having to bat last Batty would love a 30-40 run lead to really put them ahead. Essex meanwhile absolutely have to get to parity to have a chance and could really do with a lead. Time for Dan Lawrence to shine...

All 180 runs and 6 wickets are here if you have the spare time to watch a fascinating session of cricket...

 

[Wavelberry]

Dan Lawrence and the Gutsy Rearguard is up in a few minutes on Twitch...

Twitch

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 2; Session 2
​

67 runs behind and just one recognised batsmen left with the tail on a pitch that is going to turn. Essex were in trouble but Simon Harmer can bat... Boy can he bat...

And bat he did to give Essex a 100 run partnership, an extra bonus point for reaching 300 and a vital 26 run lead on first innings. His 73 off of 50 balls came in the most bizarre of circumstances as he took guard well on off stump and about 60 miles outside of his crease as he faced Stuart Meaker. Surely this was a suicidal tactic... not against Meaker though who kept bowling short and on off allowing Harmer to sit on the front foot and smack him over square and mid-wicket again and again and again and again and again and again and again. So productive was this tactic that it wiped out the 67 run deficit in no time and even gave Essex a five run lead until Zafar Ansari showed Meaker how it was done by bowling him with the first ball Harmer faced against him. Damage was done though and with Dan Lawrence now past 50 he was able to add a further 21 runs to the total before being run-out to end the innings. Porter, for his 2, tried a scoop shot but got far too much elevation and not enough distance and was easily snaffled by Mark Footit. 311 all out and a lead of 26 was very good work considering the precarious pre-lunch position...

The bowling figures make grim reading if you're Stuart Meaker but then he has nobody to blame but himself as he bowled identical ball after identical ball like he was Ben Stokes in a World T20 final. The spinners proved effective and economical which is slightly ominous given we have to bat last. Curran was okay without causing trouble and Footit's pace did cause problems.

Onto Surrey's second innings then. Could Essex grab a few wickets before tea to put them into pole position?

Just the one and it was in the last over before tea after the deficit had been wiped out by the Surrey openers. Porter and Beard toiled hard without much happening for them except one moment where a bouncer was fended high towards square leg and then just as the fielder was running for the catch the field cam glitched to show me James Foster and the catching mini-game was nowhere to be seen. An annoying drop especially as it was Burns, already with 81 runs to his name in the first innings, who had been doing the fending. It was up to the captain then to get the ball rolling and he did it by nicking Harinath off just three balls before the break. A vital breakthrough at a vital time but already Surrey are building a lead and Kumar Sangakkara tends not to fail twice.

Confirmation of the opening spells of both bowlers before Tendo's intervention. Not much seems to be happening off the pitch for the seamers and it may well be up to Man of the Moment Simon Harmer to turn this game around. If Burns and Sanga can stay together for any length of time though with Roy and Foakes and Wilson to come then Surrey could set a very commanding total.

At the moment the lead is only 21 runs though. Three wickets before the close will make it even. Four or more will push Essex ahead. Anything less and Surrey will go into Day 3 smiling and with a real chance of dishing out Essex's first defeat of the season.

The whole session (sans the last two balls coz the recording cut) are available here. Gasp as Simon Harmer stands halfway up the pitch, laugh as Stuart Meaker doesn't know how to deal with it and listen to me swear and awful lot when the fielding glitch occurs...

 

[Wavelberry]

Let's get bowling boys...

Twitch

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 2; Session 3
​

With Tendo opening the door a crack just before tea nabbing Harinath could he and the spinners with a little help from Ravi Bopara bust it wide open or would Burns and co keep them at bay?

Door open then but Essex have yet to walk through it and are finding Gary Wilson blocking the way. Tendo picked up right where he left off before tea though as an inspired spell of bowling accounted for the other two members of the top 3. Kumar Sangakkara perishing in poor fashion pulling a short ball straight to Ravi Bopara at square-leg before an absolute snorter of a delivery could only be gloved behind by Rory Burns to stop the first innings top scorer in his tracks. Jason Roy came in and hit 2 and a 4 off the last two balls of the over and looked like he was going to mean business as everything was finding the middle of his bat. At the other end Gary Wilson looked extremely skittish and it felt like it was only a matter of time before he was going to get out. He was dropped by Varun Chopra, whose fielding left a lot to be desired in the evening session, off a Ravi Bopara and was also dropped by Adam Wheater at leg-gully to end the day somehow not out. One person who was not dropped at leg-gully was Jason Roy though who swept right into Dan Lawrence's trap to give the spinner his first wicket of the 2nd innings while at the other end Harmer toiled without reward. In the end Wilson and Ansari saw Surrey to the close at 139-4 and a lead of 113.

Tendo's spell is probably his best of the season so far and Dan Lawrence bowled tidily. Harmer was pretty innocuous however and will need to step up tomorrow if Essex are going to ensure a sub 200 total to chase. At the moment I would say the match is about even. Surrey will want Wilson to go on with Ansari especially with Foakes looking in good touch. If those three can see Surrey through to lunch tomorrow then they will be well placed to win the game. Essex need Harmer back to form and another 6 wickets for around 100 runs to keep the target chaseable and in reach.

An intriguing session full of Tendo brilliance and bad Chopra fielding is here to watch right now.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 3; Session 1
​

Double-bubble Sunday then as Surrey look to the Wilson, Ansari and Foakes axis to take them to a 250+ lead and Essex look to their main man of spin Simon Harmer to keep the 4th innings run chase reasonable.

At 231-5 and lunch looming it looked all over for Essex. Foakes and Ansari were batting serenely and nothing was happening off the pitch for either Harmer or any of the seamers. The lead had gone past 200 and a formidable 4th innings target was looking more and more likely until the Surrey lower order imploded against the non-threatening part-time spin of Dan Lawrence and the game was right back in the balance.

The morning had started pretty well too with Ansari looking iffy and Wilson falling into the leg-gully trap off another part-time spinner in the shape of Tom Westley but once Foakes came out the game turned. The pitch looked benign and Foakes struck a very punchy 50 off of just 81 balls. Ansari was proving to be extremely adhesive (although he has been dropped) and Simon Harmer was being played with considerable ease... That was until the Lawrence intervention. First of all Foakes went to the leg-gully trap for 51 and then the very next ball Tom Curran, having seen no less than three batsmen in this innings alone perish in that trap, did the same thing. Suddenly Dan Lawrence was on a hattrick and the ball did rap the back leg of Gareth Batty but unfortunately it was missing leg stump. It didn't matter though because just two balls later Batty tried to smite Lawrence out of the park through the offside but only succeeded in picking out Tendo at deep point. 231-5 had become 231-8 in the space of one over and Lawrence burgled the easiest 5fer he'll ever have a few overs later when Meaker (already having proven he wasn't one of the greatest thinkers during his bowling spell) joined the leg-gully club to make it 236-9. Ansari at the other end pondered whether retiring from cricket was more preferable but found a willing partner in last-man-in Mark Footit who has already added 20 precious tail-end runs. There was still time for Ansari to be dropped before lunch as he smacked Porter right to deep-square but whoever was fielding out there (and it kinda looked like Beard) fluffed the catch. Could that catch cost Essex in the end?

Simon Harmer must wonder about the fairness of life as Lawrence snatched a 5fer and even Westley got one while he's gone wicketless this time. There is nothing much happening for the seamers off the pitch and I am definitely hoping the Surrey bowlers find the same thing when they come to bowl. The lead is already 235 and I don't want Ansari or Footit adding too many more. Surrey will be hoping the last wicket pair can frustrate and take the lead past the 250 mark. Whatever happens the game is well and truly on now but I'm definitely retiring leg-gully after this game. The AI is too stupid to resist it.

Watch me go from despair to Dan Lawrence inspired love in this morning session here.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 3; Session 2
​

There will be a 4th innings chase. But how big? How big would it be?

Well, three runs bigger than it was at lunch. Ansari struck a 3 off of Beard's over to go to his 50 and then a bit of a mix-up off of the first ball of Porter's over saw a rejuvenated (and clearly less drunk than yesterday) Varun Chopra run Footit out at the non-strikers end. 239 to win then for Essex. How would they fare?

Solid times and Essex have made a very good start to the chase. While Browne was being his normal adhesive self Chopra showed that he was more than rejuvenated with a punchy innings of 36 that included several authoritative shots. We were so close to our first 50 opening partnership of the season but on 49 Chopra went to cut Batty rather than drive him and Foakes took the edge gladly. After that Browne accelerated as Westley took 11 balls to get off the mark and his strike-rate even went above 30 but as Westley began to find his range with back to back fours off of Ansari Browne calmed down and saw his team to tea at 85-1. An excellent session for Essex.

Batty took the wicket and Meaker has been a beneficiary of Browne's sedate batting style but Footit has looked pretty loose. There is not much happening at the moment for the seamers although Footit has moved quite a few balls wildly off the seam. If Curran could do that we could have problems and it looks like one of the seamers will have to do what Tendo did for us if Surrey want to claim the win.

153 runs left to win then. I feel confident but a few stupid wickets and Surrey could be right back in it. Just look at what Dan Lawrence did.

If you fancy watching the historic moment Nick Browne's strike-rate went into the 30s the session is here for you.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3: Essex v Surrey
Day 3; Session 3
​

With 9 wickets in hand and lots of runs still to get this looked like the first Essex game to go into a fourth day. How close would Essex get towards the total before the close though...

Well... tweaking... shit...

Yep you read that right. If you thought Surrey's collapse from a position of strength in the 3rd innings was impressive then this collapse will blow your socks off. The figures make depressing reading 5 wickets for no runs 9-95 and a Essex's first loss of the season. Are you England in disguise?

The session started positively with Westley and Browne continuing to look good and bringing up the 50 partnership. It looked so easy for Essex but then... then the collapse. First of all Browne was run-out reacting to a very late call from Westley for a single and once Essex lost his adhesive quality they fell apart faster than a shoddy Ikea bookcase. Westley fended Meaker to slip and went for 33 before Bopara went for a massive hit off Batty and missed the ball completely. Foakes stumped him and we were well on our way. Meaker then got Lawrence out cutting with an edge to slip before Batty bowled an advancing Tendo. The engine room of the Essex batting line-up had scored three ducks and Essex had lost FIVE WICKETS FOR NO RUNS. Fozzie and Wheater tried to rebuild but Fozzie ended up edging Meaker to slip after a punchy 21 and left Essex 131-7. Harmer entered and went back to his eclectic six miles out of the crease batting style. It yielded him 30 runs (mostly off Meaker again) before Batty had him punting the ball to Sanga. Wheater tried to impose himself as the target dropped below 50 but holed out to give Batty his 5fer and then finally an advancing Ports was stumped by Foakes to put the seal on then win. Essex. Were. Shite.

Footit was rubbish but Meaker had a Tendoesque spell which helped to win the game despite his thrashing from Harmer. Batty's 6fer gave him the MoTM award but really the true winner of this game were fans of dressing room rants. The Essex dressing room door was closed for a long time after this one.

In the end a decent effort from Surrey who were always in it. Both sides threw away proper match winning situations and Essex will have a lot of food for thought now they've lost for the first time. This was a game they could have and should have won... Still, a defeat can have good effects if we react well. Middle order are in the nets tomorrow...

Watch the whole awful collapse here. Warning: contains me swearing a bit.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Matchday 3 Summary
​

With Essex's defeat the door was open for Warwickshire and Middlesex to make early running at the top of the table. Would either of them make it three in a row and how would early table proppers Lancashire get on?

We start with a clash between two sides expecting to be battling relegation and it was bad news for Gloucs as Leicestershire beat them comfortably. Again the Gloucestershire bowling was found wanting and this time the batting could not get them out of trouble despite Bancroft and Roderick's best efforts in the 2nd innings. As it was Ben Raine and co clearly did enough although why he won MotM is beyond me looking at that card. Another bad game for Gloucestershire though and they should be worried.

Meanwhile at New Road Yorkshire prevailed in a low scoring match despite Leach's best efforts as England quality in Root and Bairstow shone through. David Willey will be especially happy with his bowling returns and the White Rose have bounced back well from their opening day defeat.

In the other clash of the round (aside from Essex/Surrey) Durham prevailed by beating Warwickshire by 7 wickets. An big first innings total allowed them to really put the pressure on Warwickshire and despite Tim Ambrose's 159 in the second innings Durham were able to keep their unbeaten run going and end Warwickshires. Keaton Jennings especially had a good match with the bat. Maybe repeat that on Thursday mate...

Meanwhile in Southampton Michael Carberry was showing hoe things should be done as Hampshire beat Sussex. An unbeaten 161 in the fourth innings was enough to steer Hants to a famous win with Liam Dawson taking 5-110 in the match. If only he could do that for England eh...

Meanwhile Jack Leach tried to help Somerset bounce back from their defeat to Essex but Sam Billings fine game with the bat with over 200 runs saw Kent see off the Ciderman in Canterbury. Adam Riley claimed 4 in the final innings to help wrap it up despite Hildreth's century but for some reason the MotM went to Leach. Yes he claimed 11 wickets but his side lost and Billings score a century that won the game. No matter though. This is a second chastening defeat on the bounce for Somerset.

At Old Trafford Nottinghamshire continue to battle to shake off the opening defeat with a win of lowly Lancs by a solitary wicket. Chris Read's 91* in a fourth innings chase might seem MotM worthy but Broad's 8 wickets especially after what Essex did to him is hard to ignore. The most notable thing is probably the twin 50s from 10 and 11 that made it a game though and a game that Lancs nearly won. However the fact that 10 and 11 needed to do that in the first place means a lot of issues for Lancs at the moment.

Finally the other 100% record in the league was absolutely destroyed by Northants at Lords as Keogh's brilliant all-round display of 8-139 and 118 runs saw Middlesex well and truly beaten. Monty was also in the wickets and despite Adam Voges digging deep again Northants struck to leave only one unbeaten team in the league by Matchday 3.

 

[Wavelberry]

English Premier League of Cricket
Standings and Fixtures
​

There we have it then. Durham top the table as the only unbeaten side in the league although they only lead by a point with us and Kent just behind. At the moment the top seven all look like teams with title potential although not many people will have tipped Leics to be doing so well so early on. At the bottom three sides have been cut adrift already but there is a feeling that Lancs have the talent to get out of this early hole. Gloucestershire already have an air of a doomed team and Worcestershire will have to go some in the next few days in order to avoid being tarred with the same brush.

Next set of fixtures then and Durham's trip to Headingley is the stand out in this list but a game I accidentally cropped is the biggest of all as Worcestershire take on Gloucestershire in a bottom of the table mash-up. The team that loses that will surely be odds on to drop out of the league despite the earliness of the season. Elsewhere Leicestershire and Northants take on each other in a battle of the early Dark Horses while Essex will try to bounce back from their Surrey defeat with a trip to Hove. The league is alive yo.