Classic Match - Vs Notts, '02
Fantastic Knock
By Dave Buxton
February 24 2003
This week is Part Three of our Classic Matches feature & a match from only last season. The final Championship game of the season, as 3rd place Notts travelled to Chelmsford, with Essex lying in 2nd. An Essex win would give them the Division 2 title. Read on to relive a belter....
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So all the season's hard work had come down to one final match at Chelmsford, as 2nd met 3rd between 18-21 September of last year.
Nottinghamshire were the visitors to Essex and with both sides only needing a couple of points to secure promotion back to Division 1 and the leaders at the start of the last round Middlesex not in action, a win for either side would give them the Division 2 title.
This was the standings of the top 4 going into the final round of matches for 2002:
2. Essex - 202.5 pts
3. Notts - 195.75 pts
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4. Worcs - 183 pts
So the equations for Essex and Notts were this. Essex needed a single bonus point for promotion, knowing any sort of win would secure them the title. Notts needed to secure the maximum 8 bonus points for promotion. If they didn't, they needed to hope Worcestershire took 5 or less bonus points if they were to win. As Essex, they knew a win would give them the title. So it was all to play for and a belter was in store.
With Ronnie Irani away on England duty in The Champions Trophy, Paul Grayson stood in as captain. Andy Flower was taking part in the same competition, so James Foster was in to keep wicket and Mark Waugh had flown over to cover as overseas player for the remaining 4 matches. Apart from those and Ashley Cowan, who had been out for a little while, it was full-strength Essex. The XI lined up as follows: Robinson, Jefferson, Stephenson, Mark Waugh, Habib, Grayson (*), Foster (+), Dakin, Middlebrook, Napier and Grant. A strong batting line-up as all season, but no real strike bowler.
That fact would probably have meant if Essex won the toss they'd bat first, however, Grayson decided to back his batting and bowl first, opting to chase last.
Notts had MacGill in their ranks now and were hoping he would some damage. However, it was Essex doing the damage early on, the two John's to be precise, Dakin and Stephenson. 50 on the board and 2 wickets down, with both openers back in the pavilion.
Just one more wicket would seal the season's aim of promotion, but Essex had to wait a while for it, as Usman Afzaal and Darren Bicknell led an extraordinary onslaught.
They added 110 in quick time, with Afzaal particularly harsh on anything an inch short or full, cutting and pulling his way to a brilliant 134 from 167 balls. One of his two sixes was a hook shot, which flew into the upper tier of the Tom Pearce Stand and nearly caused a serious injury.
But just as lunch beckoned, the wicket the bumper crowd were waiting for came along. Graham Napier provided it, trapping Bicknell lbw for 53. When the umpire finally rose his finger to signal Bicknell was out, the crowd and the team knew what it meant and a big standing ovation was given.
After that and lunch, 2 cheap wickets fell of teenage sensation Bilal Shafayat and Paul Johnson, at the other end of the age scale and making his final first-class appearance.
That left Notts on 238-5 and Essex were looking good to bowl out the hosts fairly cheaply.
Then at 250-5, James Middlebrook weaved his magic to take 3 wickets for no runs and put Essex firmly in control. He dismissed the key wicket of Afzaal caught on the boundary by Jefferson, then Franks and MacGill within 3 balls.
Even though Smith hung around with Chris Read for 15 more runs, when he went to Napier on 265-9, it looked as if the innings would be wrapped in quick time. Not to be. Once again the Essex attack let the last wicket add plenty of runs and it was 76 that Read and Harris put on.
Harris belied the fact he's a number 11 by playing sensibly for his 16 not out, while Read smashed it around for 73 in 82 balls. However, in trying to hit another boundary, he gave Middlebrook a catch off Dakin and the innings was finally completed at 341 all out from 86.5 overs.
James Middlebrook was most impressive with the ball, taking 3-69 in 25 overs with 8 maidens. Dakin also took 3 wickets, but was more expensive at a cost of 87, with Napes and Stepho taking 2 each.
Essex only had 1.3 overs to contend before play for day 1 was brought to a premature end due to bad light, with the score 2-0.
Day 2 started with Essex suffering a big blow, losing Jefferson for 0 without a run added from the previous night; Andy Harris accounting him lbw.
But Stephenson and Robinson added 85 for the 2nd wicket, before Robbo was next to go, for 41 from 89 balls.
Still, with Mark Waugh now at the crease and Stepho in full flight, it was like old times, as they hit 57 for wicket number 3.
But after making an excellent 65 (127 balls) Stephenson went caught behind off Harris, only to bring out Aftab Habib and yet another half-century stand was added, this time of 69.
At 213-3 Essex looked well on course for a decent first innings lead. However, the collapse that has become the norm set in.
First to go was Mark Waugh for 49, then Grayson made just 2, before he went to the spin of MacGill. Then after making exactly 50 (95 balls, 10 fours) Habib was next out to MacGill also and at 233-6 the score was far from what the hosts would have wanted after being 213-3.
Jon Dakin didn't last long, before Fossy and Middlebrook added 37 useful 8th wicket runs. But then 3 wickets fell for 1 run and the innings was over for just 282 off 88.4 overs, way below par. Foster made 29 and Midders was unbeaten on 25, with Napier and Joe Grant both recording ducks.
So a lead for Notts of 59 looked useful and they visitors had 15 overs to bat before day 2 came to a close. They did this closing on 39-1, the only wicket to fall was of Welton, bowled by Middlebrook, with the pitch now taking spin. More good news for Notts, was that Worcestershire had scored only 5 bonus points and could now not catch Notts, even with Essex were to win, so they were also promoted, meaning the Division 2 title was at stake of the outcome of events at Chelmsford.
Day 3 was a real topsy turvey affair and really added spice to this match that already had seen some high quality cricket.
Notts were quickly reduced to 123-6, with Grant taking the key wicket of Afzaal. 134 in the first innings was followed by a 0 and a major boost for Essex.
The hosts though had another tough nutt to crack in Shafayat and he scored a well composed 70 and guided the tail through to a 2nd innings total of 280 that was probably 80 more than they should have scored.
He added 87 with Franks (33) and 26 with Smith (16), before Middlebrook wrapped it up taking his 2nd wicket of the innings and 5th of the match. Dakin bowled with better control and deserved his figures of 19-3-49-3, while Stephenson followed his 65 with 3-45.
All this meant Essex had to score 340 in their 2nd innings to secure the title and Notts 10 wickets for the same feat. It was sure to be belting finish to the season.
Essex had 31 overs to contend with to close off day 3 and did this well closing on 129-2. Robbo and Jefferson started off at a rollicking pace hitting a quickfire 57 for the first wicket. But when Robbo went for 22 and then John Stephenson for just 4, the score stood at 70-2 and the crowd were hoping that panic wouldn't set in.
It didn't, as Jefferson ended the day on a commanding 71 and Mark Waugh 29.
So, the final day and it promised to be fascinating. Essex needed a further 211 and Notts 8 wickets....which way would it go?!
Well it started off Essex's, as Jefferson and Waugh took their 3rd wicket stand to 135 in quick time. Neither batsman messed around hitting four after four before Waugh fell for an excellent 76 from only 72 balls and it looked good despite that wicket, at 205-3.
A further 135 were needed and by lunch, 122 of those had been scored at an incredible rate of 5.82. Will Jefferson went to a magnificent hundred and what a class knock it was. Affy had also gone to his excellent fifty and with 13 only needed after the interval, the title was almost in our hands.
When the players resumed, it took only a few balls before Johnson tossed a gentle full-toss to Jefferson. He dispatched it to the boundary for his 29th four and the title was ours, to the delight of everyone. Will Jefferson had played a blinder, ending on 165 not out off just 214 balls, quite outstanding with all his chanceless runs being classic drives and pulls.
The tough target was made to look incredibly easy and with Ronnie absent, it was Paul Grayson who lifted the Division 2 trophy aloft to the Chelmsford faithful to the noise of a loud cheer. It had ended a great season, with the best and most consistent team deserving the honour of the trophy.
A real classic this. All four days had seen some incredible cricket and Jefferson rounded it off with an innings he and those present will never, ever forget. The title was ours, what a match!
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Date: 24/2/03