365 Sporting Days

After 2 gloriously hot days, when my good friend Stella and I had to seek shade Day 3 was an altogether different prospect weather wise.

What didn’t change was Essex’s dominance in this game, would they make it another victory in 3 days?  From a very selfish viewpoint I was hoping so, I was due to be at the Premiership Rugby Double Header the next day and I wanted to see that win.

When would captain ten Doeschate declare?  Tom Westley starts day close to the landmark total of 25o and Tendo himself wasn’t far from his own century.  Westley continued in the style in which he’d finished Day 2 reaching his 250.  He was run out 8 runs later, and in nw looking at the stats I forgot to mention the wicket of Dan Lawrence on Day 2, another bright young Essex batsman tags wasn’t to be a good game for him, he was out for a disappointing 1 before the captain came to the wicket.

Essex were on 533 for 5 with the fall of Wesley’s wicket and James Foster came into the fray.  Ryan ten Doeschate reached his century and his 1000 runs milestone, these 2 men are used to playing together, often at a time when quick runs are needed.  The 600 mark was reached and the declaration made with 601 on the board.

Over to the bowlers – and step up another Essex stalwart.  The Worcestershire batting line up were despatched for 210 runs,  George Rhodes who’d been fielding near where we were sitting and who’d been a delight, top scored with 41, closely followed by Ben Cox with 35.  Graham Napier was the pick of the Essex bowlers, he took 5 for 59, Masters added 2 to his tally for the game and as if Tom Westley hadn’t contributed enough he took 2 wickets for 13 runs.  On loan Will Rhodes took the remaining wicket.

Essex had a 24 point win under their belts, Kent had momentarily sat at the top of the table but they were leapfrogged by Essex who extended their lead by these 24 points, after a great all round performance.