Essex on top

By Jeremy Horne
September 4 2002

Essex staged a late fight back to take control of their vital top of the table clash with Middlesex. They clawed their way from 214-8 to 278 and then took three early Middlesex second innings wickets.

Middlesex began the day badly as they resumed their first innings on 283-7. They only lasted four overs and missed out on a vital batting point as they were all out for 295.

Simon Cook then took four wickets to turn the tables in Middlesex’s favour and leave Essex 91-4. However, England discard Mr. Whippy, together with Aftab Habib put on 79 to leave Essex well placed at 170-4. Paul Weekes then removed Whippy and took two further wickets to leave Essex 190-7. The inspiration then came from the 9th wicket pair James Middlebrook and Graeme Napier who put on 54. Essex were eventually bowled out for 278, a deficit of 17.

Ben Hutton then departed for his 5th duck in 7 innings. Barmykev says Middlesex lose their wickets in 3’s and today was no exception as Jamie Dalrymple and Sven Koenig followed leaving the score at 8-3. Nightwatchman Simon Cook and captain Owais Shah then took Middlesex to stumps without further alarm, with the score on 21-3.

Middlesex 1st innings: Essex won toss

Hutton lbw b Middlebrook 85
Koenig c Flower b Middlebrook 26
Dalrymple c Stephenson b Grant 17
Shah lbw b Whippy 47
Joyce c Flower b Dakin 15
Weekes c Jefferson b Grant 12
Nash b Napier 26
Noffke st Flower b Grayson 19
Cook c Stephenson b Dakin 25
Keegan c Habib b Napier 5
Tufnell not out 2

Extras 16

Total (all out, 109 overs) 295

Essex 1st innings:

Robinson c Nash b Cook 20
Jefferson b Cook 14
Stephenson lbw b Cook 10
Flower lbw b Cook 32
Whippy c Hutton b Weekes 43
Habib lbw b Tufnell 65
Grayson c and b Weekes 5
Dakin c Keegan b Weekes 6
Middlebrook st Nash b Tufnell 33
Napier not out 38
Grant c Nash b Tufnell 0

Extras 12

Total (all out, 88 overs) 278

Middlesex 2nd innings:

Hutton lbw b Whippy 0
Koenig lbw b Dakin 5
Dalrymple c Flower b Dakin 2
Cook not out 1
Shah not out 12

Extras 1

Total (for 3 wickets, 8 overs) 21

To bat: Joyce, Weekes, Nash, Noffke, Keegan, Tufnell