Irani's quickfire ton clinches Essex win
By Ananova
May 29 2002
Ronnie Irani played a superb captain's innings to lead Essex to a six-wicket victory against Derbyshire in the Frizzell County Championship. He smashed 101 from just 76 balls to help the home side reach their target of 190 with seven overs to spare.
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He shared a match-winning fourth-wicket partnership of 155 with Andy Flower (55) to condemn Derbyshire to their first championship defeat of the season. Their stand turned around Essex's fortunes after they had been held up by Derbyshire's stubborn lower-order batsmen and then lost three quick wickets on the final day at Chelmsford. After resuming on 73 for five, Derbyshire had added just 10 runs to their overnight total before Jason Kerr was sent back to the pavilion. He offered no shot to a good length ball by John Stephenson and was bowled for six. Kevin Dean and Karl Krikken then put on 67 for the seventh wicket and moved the total onto 150 before Dean was removed by Stephenson two runs short of his half-century when he was caught at cover by Graham Napier. Graeme Welch made nine before edging a catch to wicketkeeper Andy Flower off Jon Dakin with the total on 177. Mohammad Ali then hit 16 from 19 balls before becoming Dakin's second victim. He took a third wicket to wrap up the innings as Krikken was trapped lbw for 48, with Derbyshire all out for 199. That left Essex needing 190 from a minimum of 40 overs and they made a promising start with Darren Robinson crashing the first two balls to the boundary. He added two more fours in the third over but his lively innings was ended when Dean found the edge of his bat and he was caught at first slip by Andrew Gait. Two wickets in the space of two balls gave Derbyshire hope. Napier was run out attempting a quick single and Stephenson was caught behind by Krikken next ball. But Flower and Irani quickly stepped up the run rate, with the latter hitting the ball to all parts of the ground as he played a typically aggressive innings. Irani needed just 70 balls to reach his century, which included 12 fours and three sixes. He was unable to stay and hit the winning runs as he lobbed a catch to Chris Bassano at mid-wicket. Flower completed his half-century in the closing stages and sealed the victory when he hooked a short ball by Dean through mid-wicket.
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