Flower steers Essex to easy victory
By Ananova
May 19 2002
Essex Eagles made a winning start to their Norwich Union League Division Two campaign with a seven-wicket victory against Derbyshire Scorpions. A superb all-round display by Andy Flower proved decisive as the home side cruised to their target of 156 with eight overs to spare.
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Any spectators arriving late at Chelmsford missed a lively opening as Derbyshire threatened to make a flying start. Eagles captain Ronnie Irani won the toss and put the visitors in but saw three of his first four balls driven to the boundary by Andrew Gait. But the last ball of the opening over saw the all-rounder gain his revenge as Gait played across the line to a good length ball and was bowled. Scorpions struggle Mathew Dowman managed only a single before he edged a catch to wicketkeeper Flower off the bowling of Ashley Cowan. Dominic Hewson became Irani's second victim when he was snapped up at first slip by Darren Robinson and the Scorpions were struggling on 28 for three. Christopher Bassano had faced 25 balls without scoring and he tried to get off the mark but only managed to drive a catch straight to Paul Grayson at midwicket in Jon Dakin's second over. John Stephenson then captured the prize wicket of Michael di Venuto in the next over when the Australian was trapped lbw as he played across the line after making 23 to reduce Derbyshire to 46 for five. Wickets fall at regular intervals Steven Selwood and Luke Sutton steadied the ship but the reintroduction of Cowan into the attack accounted for the latter when he was caught by Flower. Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals throughout the remainder of the innings, although Selwood, who top-scored with 30, and Graeme Welch (22) provided some resistance as Derbyshire were dismissed for 155 from 44.3 overs. The Scorpions rarely looked like defending their disappointing total as Darren Robinson and Stephenson made a solid start. They put on 56 for the first wicket before the latter fell to Jason Kerr after hooking a catch to Gait at square leg in the 12th over. The Eagles were still on course for victory when, with the total on 80, Robinson skied a catch to Kerr at deep mid-on after a solid 38. The following over saw Graham Napier bowled by Tom Lungley to give the Scorpions renewed hope but it proved short-lived as Flower and Irani steered Essex towards their target. Flower smashed 44 from 39 balls, including the winning boundary, while Irani finished unbeaten on 29.
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