DAY THREE – CLOSE OF PLAY
MATCH RESULT – MIDDLESEX WIN BY 10 WICKETS
Essex 127 all out & 288 all out
Middlesex 364 all out & 52/0
Middlesex started the third day needing just 4 wickets to secure victory, whereas Essex required another 17 runs to ensure the visitors needed to bat again.
Essex were able to avoid an innings defeat thanks to some decent lower order batting, which took them past parity for the loss of just one further wicket.
Essex eventually came unstuck however, and Nathan Sowter added another 3 wickets to his haul of 3 the previous day to help put an end to their innings.
Sowter himself finished with figures of 6-83, whilst Essex set Middlesex 52 to win in Billericay.
Openers Perera and Davies made light work of this total, and managed to secure the victory without loss.
DAY TWO – CLOSE OF PLAY
Middlesex 364 all out
Essex 220/6
Essex would have been encouraged with their early breakthrough to put Middlesex on 223/8 on day two.
However, two impressive partnerships from Middlesex’s tail end made life difficult for the hosts.
Nathan Sowter was essential to both of these partnerships, and he celebrated a fantastic unbeaten 123 at almost a run a ball.
Tom Barber also deserves a special mention, hitting 42 at number 10 before finally falling to Dixon.
Middlesex were eventually bowled out for 364, with a lead of 237 runs.
Essex came back out looking to bat positively, and found great success in doing so.
An opening partnership of 118 runs from 23 overs frustrated the Middlesex bowling attack, with the two openers adopting contrasting approaches to their innings.
By the time the wicket fell, Walter had notched up 88 whilst Buttleman had hit just 16 runs.
Walter fell to Sowter’s bowling, who then also claimed Buttleman just 2 overs later.
Essex struggled to maintain partnerships from this point onwards, and found themselves struggling to reach parity with Middlesex’s first innings score as they found themselves 183/6, after losing 2 wickets in one Walallawita over.
The hosts managed to reach 220 without further loss by the close of play, but still trailed Middlesex by 17 runs going into Day Three.
Walallawita claimed figures of 3-15 overnight, whilst Sowter also picked up three wickets for 44 runs.
CLOSE OF PLAY – DAY ONE
Essex 127 all out
Middlesex 205/7
Middlesex travelled to Billericay for their final match of the season against Essex, but it was the hosts who won the toss and decided to bat first.
However, Middlesex found themselves in the driving seat extremely early on, taking 3 cheap wickets to reduce the hosts to 20-3.
Barber & Evans put Essex to the sword during the opening day, and by the time Essex had reached 100 they had already lost 7 wickets.
Khushi provided the strongest resistance for Essex, but eventually fell for 50 thanks to Tom Barber.
Three wickets then fell in 4 deliveries without a run being scored, with Evans taking 2 and George Scott finishing off the Essex innings for 127.
Evans finished with a brilliant 5-37 and Barber took 3-27.
In reply, Middlesex didn’t get off to the best start, losing Davies early with the score at 9-1.
John Simpson captained the side and helped to steer the ship for Middlesex. He scored a controlled 57 from 87 deliveries, and by the time he was dismissed the score had reached 106-3, just 21 shy of Essex’s score.
George Scott then took up the mantle, and contributed an important 46 to guide Middlesex to 161-6.
The final wicket of the day fell at 198-7, and Middlesex found themselves on 205-7 at the close of play, leading by 78 runs going into the second day.
Essex
Middlesex 2nd XI
