Essex were immediately off the pace in their encounter to Nottinghamshire. It was cloudy in Nottingham which worked well to Nottinghamshire’s bowlers. This proved to have an early effect on Essex, making their start tough to negotiate.
The side of Nottinghamshire had the advantage of the toss and elected to bat. It seemed to be a well thought out decision when they decided to bowl first. Essex has also been a victim of losing a wicket in the first over of the game. Looking at the depths of the pitch, Dean Elgar was out cheap to the bowling of Rob Lord. Elgar tried to lunch it to the fine leg but failed, Haseeb Hameed, who took the catch at mid on.
Nottinghamshire’s bowlers had to reinforce the impact of these conditions as Virtue realized in this match. Oh what beautiful cricket was being played: The ball was swinging and seaming. Robin Das had a lifeline after lunch. He was dismissed rather down the slips. Although his luck of the draw was quite good in the beginning. He got another delivery towards the slip cordon. This time, there was to be no slip up from Lyndon James. Feeling hunted out of the game, Das continued his batting inning for 20 as Essex landed more in trouble.
The Accrington player Rob Lord was again in good form this being his second match in the County Championship. Lively bowling which disturbed Essex’s top order was contributed by him. The Aussie cricketer had rich figures at stumps with the bowling performance of 2 for 53.
Nottinghamshire’s Bowlers Dominate Essex’s Top Order
Essexe’s batting was under serious pressure when Nottinghamshire bowlers ruled the show in the early part of Essex’s innings. Their bowlers made sure they delivered the ball in the right areas. Nottinghamshire’s experienced bowler, Luke Fletcher, continued the pressure on Essex’s batters.
Some of the hard strikes were by Fletcher in that 13 over spell which was unrelenting. He bore himself with a tremendous amount of patience and was a very accurate bowler. Essex’s captain Westley felt nervous against Fletcher. Today Fletcher was bowling and he bowled some good and testing deliveries. Another of them almost hit Westley in the box and proved the ordeal he underwent.
However, Westley did not budge an inch from the issued decision no matter how much pressure was put on him. Matt Critchley, however, erred with Fletcher’s delivery. He played a ball which swerved back and got his wickets. Then came the dismissal of Critchley that escalated the problems of Essex.
It went from worse to worse for Essex after the arrival of their opponent, Luc Benkenstein who was also the new comer. Despite the rather aggressive credentials he set up, he managed a confident boundary off his first ball in first-class cricket. However he early got the ball in his hand sifting Rob Lord’s delivery to the wicketkeeper making score 86/4 on the board of Essex.
Westley and Walter Begin Essex’s Recovery
With the coach sitting in the stands wondering how he is going to get his side out of the hole they had dug for themselves, Essex’s innings was in danger of crumbling. At 86 for 4, there was need for some big partnership. Tom Westley and Paul Walter came up to the challenge. Westley had come in to bat early in the innings. He saw the progress of wickets at the other side. But he remained composed.
Westley was a slow- scoring batsman. He was to some extent successful in toning down Nottinghamshire’s incensed assault. However, Walter acted more recklessly He acted more risky. Arguably, it was good the two had contrasting styles hence there was a perfect blend between the two. Gradually, Essex started to rebuild although the trauma and loss experienced earlier on would continue to haunt people for sometime.
He managed to hit with some big shots in the venture. In his carnivals of the innings, he made 10 fours and one six. Westley therefore played a more defensive strategy, which was directed towards accumulation. Thus, they were creating a solid base of a partnership between them.
Nottinghamshire Struggle as Conditions Ease
The Nottinghamshire’s domination somewhat dwindled as the situation became better. I found later on in the afternoon the sky was getting more clear with some clouds over it. The Kookaburra ball about which Essex had troubles so often started to become softer. Each of them was now able to get into a better position to hit the ball and this made batting easier for Westley and Walter.
They both talked about their fifty runs stand which was taken in just six overs. Walter was very agressive and thus could find boundaries with such ease. His 72 came of 106 balls. Some of the good shots Walter played off his bowling are, one of them was the outstanding battling drive off Farhan Ahmed.
While on the other hand Westley took 79 balls to reach his half-century. This overcame vulnerability and brought steadiness to Essex, the temperate pace of which was characteristic of Corney. In 26 overs the duo’s century partnership was arrived. This made the match to be under the control of Essex due to the partnership they had.
Westley Reaches His Hundred Under Pressure
It was a coming of age of Westley’s innings which showed lot of patience and determination. He managed to steer his side Essex to safety after the early pressure had been applied on them. His century came off 193 balls it means that he took as many balls as are required by most biggies to make one hundred to get a century. This was his best performance of the season and at that too he missed a match- winning opportunity.
There were some dramatics in Westley’s innings. He went on playing during tougher times against Nottinghamshire’s bowlers. One of such incidents was when he moved Rob Lord to the fine leg Ealry in the match, he also used some of his fielders off vice versa. This shot took me to Walter and brought up the century partnership that has been made.
The other was Walter’s golden jubilee which came the following year after the magical fifty was accomplished in grand style. He came forward to take Rob Lord for another bounding. Aggression was well in display by the young man the moment he reached his fifty by breaking a 65 ball barrier. Walter also did not mind the introduction of a new comer, Liam Patterson-White’s spin with a four and a six over long-off.
Walter Departs, But Westley Continues to Dominate
There was a unfortunate end to Walter’s innings. He could not be able to sweep Ahmed instead he could only get a leading edge. The ball flew to gully and thus Walter departed for 72. Nevertheless, the fact is that the harm had been done and the dismissal became the fact in the organization. Both Walter and Westley had pulled Essex from positions of 86/4 to what was considered as a safe position.
More runs went on adding for Westley after the dismissal of Walter. He went on unmoved to 108, and there he was still unbeaten on when play was called for the day. Nh fielders made mistakes as they offered five runs through overthrows to Westley. This piece of luck or providential led him to his century or hundred.
Westley single handedly scored a hundred for Essex and that was the difference in the end. It gave the much-needed stability in determination of the test results.Nottinghamshire’s bowlers were hard at work all through the afternoon. However they could not penetrate Westley’s defense line.
Nottinghamshire Bowlers Struggle on Softened Wicket
And by the end of the day Nottinghamshire’s bowlers were under a lot of pressure. The climate had worsened considerably from what it was in the morning. Initially, the Kookaburra bowled had fairly sharp edges but the balls faced a process of demarcation and thus the balls lost their initial bite. This made it easier for Essex’s batters because, they did not have to be worried about the overpitching of the ball.
It must be said that one of the best performers earlier in the day was Rob Lord, but he was not able to repeat it in the following rounds. He went on to show intentions but he did not get the rewards he wanted. Another one, who was not successful in the second session, was the most experienced bowler of Nottinghamshire – Luke Fletcher.
It did not help Nottinghamshire’s cause that their fielding was poor. Miss-fielding’s some times were fatal for Essex where they could build up easy and fast running. One of the worst occasion was when the throw went wrong which had given Westley some valuable runs.
Essex in Commanding Position After Gloomy Start
Essex close the day and is in a very strong position. In that over they could score only 86 for 4 and by stumps they could score 262 for 5. Westley’s unbeaten hundred was the main reason why the team was able to get back to the rankings. Walter was also very aggressive in his 72 which contributed to this score as well.
In the afternoon Nottinghamshire lost control while the latter had begun the day well. Sadly for their bowlers, they could not enjoy the sort of success that they once got when the conditions were helpful. Essex did exactly that, which put together a composed and persistent accumulation of runs for their team.
Essexotor has given the team a good position to fight back on. The team will therefore look forward to adding to the total attained while Westley is still on the ground. The Nottinghamshire bowlers are thus challenged to gather themselves and look for ways for getting into Essex and defeating them.
Conclusion
Tom Westley made a hundred and Paul Walter continued his uppishness with a 72 to ensure Essex was out of the area straight after in the County Championship. Such a stand was much needed after Essex got into trouble at 86 for 4 and the two men ensured that the team stayed afloat. Nottinghamshire’s bowlers had the better of it earlier on but as the light improved Westley and Walter rallied Essex to 262 for 5 at stumps. However, Nottinghamshire’s early advantage has been neutralized by Essex’ spirited fight-back that has placed the latter firmly in the driver’s seat and therefore the game is well poised for the remaining of the match.
FAQs
1. How did Tom Westley perform in the match?
Tom Westley scored an unbeaten 108, this has been his highest this season.
2. Who supported Westley in rebuilding Essex’s innings?
Westley received useful contributions of 72 from Paul Walter in a mammoth stand of 142.
3. What was Essex’s score at the end of the day?
Yousuf’s men could manage only 262 for 5 at the end of the play.
4. Who impressed in Nottinghamshire’s bowling attack?
Rob Lord took two wickets and was quite animated all through the day.
5. How did the weather affect the match?
Rain affected the game and it led to 22 overs cut from the day’s play.
