Irani The Essex Hero

Essex made some interesting selections to their side. At the top, we expected Jon Dakin to open, but joining him was the returning John Stephenson. Great to see Stepho back, though a little surprised he opened. Napier went in at 3, Flower 4, Irani 5, Habib, Grayson 7, then the interesting selection of Darren Robinson at 8. Fresh from his century against Gloucs. though right down the order. The other surprising selection was Andy Clarke at number 11, so with Cowan, the main seam bowlers.

It must be something about Essex captains being awful at tossing, because Nasser and Ronnie have lost more than they've won and once again Ronnie lost another and Essex were put in on a pitch seaming around with the early overcast and dull conditions. The cloudy forecast meant a sparse crowd, but those who turned up late (including myself!) missed the action right as the start of play.

The action, was Essex slipping to 18-4. Stepho couldn't score any runs, as the firery opening burst from James Kirtley saw him bag 3 of the 4 wickets to fall. Kirtley bowled Stepho with an unplayable ball that pitched on middle and took off and next over, pich-hitter Graham Napier went lbw for 1 to the delighfully named Robin Martin-Jenkins, son of writer Christopher. Next over, even worse, as Essex slipped to 8-3, as Kirtley got star batter Andy Flower lbw for only 2.

Ronnie Irani then joined Jon Dakin, but Dakin was bogged down in making 5 and Kirtley got him to edge to Ambrose behind the stumps and at 18-4 the match was looking like being a swift one.

However, the new look batting line-up meant strength in depth, with our Championship opening pair of Grayson and Robinson down at 7 and 8 and with Habib coming out to join Irani, hope of making 200+ was still on.

And Affy and Ronnie got the first of a couple of partnerships going to start the recovery, adding 77 in 73 minutes. Aftab was content to play the suporting role as Irani took every opportunity to score runs.

But just when both looked like reaching big scores, they went before reaching 50. First to go was Ronnie, as he edged the impressive Yardy to Ambrose for a superb 47 in 88 balls. He got Essex back on track, although the scoreboard read 95-5.

Grayson looked lively in joining Habib and together they added 59 to take Essex to 154-6 inside the 42nd over, before Habib innings came to an end as he clipped Taylor to Adams at short mid-wicket for a superb 46 in 84 balls and his knock with Ronnie had given Essex hope now.

Robbo had a go at number 8, but hitting isn't really his game and he went next for 8, as he tried to smash a Yardy full-toss to the boundary, but as many will know, full-tosses aren't easy to hit and Kirtley did excellently at mid-on to dive and catch the ball. Essex now 167-7 but with still 5 overs to go, had a realistic chance of making the 200 mark.

And hope was renewed, as Ashley Cowan played a little cameo of 15 in 11 balls and adding a useful 16 with Larry for the 8th wicket. First balls he opened the face of the bat and ran-it to the point boundary for four, then next over, Martin-Jenkins tried to fool Cowan with a slower ball, but Ash picked it and hit it straight over the bowler for six.

But the impressive looking Kirtley came back to york Ashley and get James Middlebrook for 9 as well. Although Middlebrook with Grayson again added a useful 16 runs, showing the depth in Essex's batting this year.

When the off-spinner went, Esex were 199-9 with an over to go, but a further 7 runs came, 6 in the last over, as Andy Clarke and Grayson took Essex to a very respectable 206-9 off the 50 overs and at 18-4 this didn't look possible, so all credit to Irani & co.

Grayson finished unluckly on 49 not out; a wonderful knock lasting just 55 balls, with Clarke unbeaten on 2. Kirtley was Sussex pick with great figures of 5-33 from his 10 overs, while Yarday also looked imnpressive with 2-44 from his 10.

Still, despite the fantastic recovery, 207 for Sussex still looked a very attainable target, though Ronnie Irani had other ideas.

He removed young opener Tim Ambrose for 5 inside the 4th over, with a pearler that cut back and Ambrose chopped onto his stumps, 15-1.

However, the dangerous Chris Adams came out to the crease and with Richard Montgomerie added 88 for the 2nd wicket, as Sussex appeared to be cruising.

In the corresponding fixture two years ago, Chris Adams hit a superb century and again took a liking to the Essex attack with 54 from 77 balls, including 5 fours and with the score on 103-1, Irani took the step of trying to recover the situation himself with the ball as he did with the bat.

And didn't he, as 'Captain Marvel' gambled by using up his remaining overs with still plenty left in the match, as he took 4 wickets in the space of 5 overs to give Essex the upper hand.

Firstly, he got Adams to play one shot too many, as he slashed to Napier at point, where he snapped up the catch. Then very next ball, a real bonus, with Murray Goodwin going first ball just edging to Flower behind the stumps.

In his next over Cottey got a beauty that he couldn't do anything but edge to Cowan and at 2nd slip he took a great low catch.

All this meant Sussex had gone from 103-1 to 105-4 and with John Stephenson bowling an inspired spell at the other end, as he got Martin-Jenkins to knick to Flower also, the score went to 109-5 and Essex suddenly knew they'd turned this game on it's head.

This was confirmed in over number 29, as Ronnie deservedly got his 5th wicket, by House slashing again to Napier at point and a greatful Nappys could not drop the sitter. The scoreboard now read 114-6 and now Sussex for the first time had dropped below the par score, meaning if rain came and the match was to be abandoned, Essex would have won an extroadinary game of cricket.

And would you believe, the rain came in the next over and a delay of around 40 minutes. The shower was pretty heavy, but the groundstaff got to work again and when play was to start at 5:55pm, Sussex needed to score a seemingly impossible 65 in just another 7.4 overs!

When they got back out, just 4 balls and a couple of runs where possible before it rained again and this time it was continous and heavy and the match was this time abandoned, giving Essex a 20 run win on Duckworth/Lewis!

Quite unbelivable at 18-4 to turn the match around and one is to thank for that, Ronnie Irani. He did it all himself and gave it 200%, it was simply one of the best all-round performances I've seen from a single man watching cricket over 6 years.

This meant a great start at last in the B&H with 2 points and a win and with Surrey losing to Middlesex at Lord's, not only does it give us great hope for a Quarter-Final place, but it also means the match on Tuesday at Lord's is going to be a belter!