Rain & Hail Means Honours Even At Chelmsford
52 not out
By Dave Buxton
April 10 2003
Honours ended even after the two-day friendly against Middlesex was spoilt by rain & even hail at Chelmsford today, the final day of two, meaning the match being declared a draw. The seaxes lead by 117 runs on first innings & set Essex 272 in 50 & were going well on 115-2, before hands were shaken.
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Honours ended even after the two-day friendly match against Middlesex was spoilt by rain and even hail at Chelmsford today, the final day of two, meaning the match being declared a draw. The visitors lead by 117 runs on first innings and set Essex 272 in 50 and the lads were going well at 115-2 off 21 overs, but the rain meant the hands were shaken.
Yesterday it was the cold and wind, today, it was the rain and hail. Cricket is here folks and the weather proves that!
The final day of this two-day 110 overs each day friendly saw Middlesex enjoy the better of proceedings on day one, despite 50's from Darren Robinson and James Foster. 4 innings of 55 overs each, meant Essex replied to the visitors 289-3 with 172-7, to concede a lead of 117 on first innings.
So, day two saw Middlesex enter their second innings. Strauss and Koenig opened again and after negotiating a good opening spell from Joe Grant and and Andrew McGarry (once again) they scored some good runs.
Grant was unlucky not to pick up the South African more cheaply, as he induced an edge to second slip on 8, but Will Jefferson did well to get a hand on it, diving to his left. It's a long way down for a tall man!
Koenig went onto 30 before retiring to let David Nash have a knock. The keeper made 42 while Andrew Strauss made 47, before himself retiring.
Just before the seaxes captain retired, the first shower of the day came with Middlesex on 109-1. This was in over 23 and with hail following, play was stopped for an hour and a half.
When the players returned, McGarry continued his impressive form in this match by removing Nash's middle stump and then Ed Joyce (20 not out) and Ben Hutton (5 not out) saw Middlesex to 154-3 from 35.5 overs, when the declaration came and with time lost, a target for the home team of 272 in 50 overs was set.
Andrew McGarry was impressive once again and returned 10-2-42-1 and might secure a place against the same opposition at the end of next week, when the Londoners return to Chelmsford for the opening Championship match. John Stephenson and Grant bowled better second time around, with figures of 6-2-17-0 and 6-0-34-0 respectively.
Essex went out to bat then second time around and started off better than the first innings, with Robbo and Jeffers sharing 23 quickly, before Robinson saw an attempted pull shot from Keegan hit the back of his bat and fly to Strauss at cover for 13 (unlucky for Darren).
More rain and bad light also stopped proceedings again for a short while and when the players returned, Paul Grayson joined Jefferson in adding 23 also for the second wicket, before Larry was trapped lbw again, this time for 10 to Tim Bloomfield and Essex were 46-2.
Then Habib joined Will Jefferson and they batted with purpose, with Jeffers playing great shots on both sides of the wicket and Habib on the leg side. Tea came at 91-2 from 17 overs and a good position to push for an excellent win.
But, the rain was always going to have a factor and 10 minutes play was lost immediately after tea, before play resumed, albeit for only 15 minutes, before the hands were shaken on a draw, with time running out and the light getting worse.
The 15 minutes was enough for Jeffers to reach 52 not out and Habib 27 not out, as Essex closed on 115-2 off 21 overs and the draw the final outcome.
So, good practice for the lads and good time spent in English conditions, after the South Africa tour a couple of weeks ago. All players had time with the bat and ball and had rain not spoilt play, could possibly have gone onto win this match, being in an excellent position at 115-2 chasing 272. Still, nothing really can be taken from this match into the one between the sides next week.
However, still more chance for practice, when the team travel to Fenner's to play Cambridge UCCE over three days, starting this Saturday, before Middlesex visit again next Friday for the start of the season proper and the opening Championship fixture. Bring it on!
Click below to view the match scorecard, day one images and report:
DAY ONE REPORT
DAY ONE PICTURES
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Date: 10/4/03