365 Sporting Days

Something special happened in this last home game of the T20 Blast league games, again. Essex had beaten their own T20 Blast score with 244 against Sussex, they beat it again during this match! Robin Das opened with Adam Rossington, I am going to put my stall out here and question why Feroze Khushi wasn’t playing, it’s a real concern to me. Das and Rossington put on 37 for theorist wicket, which fell in the 4th over. Das had scored 23 from 14 balls, hitting two 4’s and two 6’s. Rossington who fell 5 short of his century against Sussex at Hove scored 45 from 23 balls, that included seven 4’s and a 6, he and Michael Pepper had put on a swift 35 with Pepper being caught by Andrew Salter from the bowling of Premier Sosodfiya in the 9th over when Rossington was caught by Colin Ingram from the bowling of Sisodiya.

Micheal Pepper’s stay wasn’t a long one, but wow this batter has entertained this season, he scored 17 from 10 taking him to 403 at an average of 36.6 his strike rate is 167.21.

Essex were 89 for 3 as Rossington left the field, that brought Paul Walter in to join Dan Lawrence and that was when things really took off in this innings. This was when a few bowlers had their bowling stats damaged too! The pair his 31 in one over, with Walter smashing four 6’s from the first 4 balls, followed by a single, to add insult to injury Lawrence then hit a 5th 6 from the final ball.

The pair put on 101 for the 4th wicket, Walter scored 58 from 23 balls, hitting two 4’s and six 6’s, his strike rate for this match was 252.17, that put him on 370 for the group games at an average of 41.11. Lawrence carried on with Daniel Same, he scored 71 from 37 balls, he hit eight 4’s and three 6’s a strike rate of 191.89. It was so good to see him back and going well after a difficult season with injuries. Sam contributed 21 from 10 balls, hitting three 6’s as he went and Simon Harmer hit three 4’s fro the 4 balls he faced. All of that added up to a huge 254! Essex’s record T20 blast scored beaten for the second time this season!

It was a horrible evening for the Glamorgan bowlers Dan Douthwaite, who I believe bowled the 31 over, had 66 runs hit from his 4 overs.

Aaron Beard gave Glamorgan a horror start to their innings, having opener Tom Bevan caught by Sam Cook on his 5th ball, Cook then caught Colin Ingram from the bowling of Daniel Same in the 2nd over. Things got worse for Glamorgan when Beard literally destroyed Billy Root’s stumps in the 3rd over. Glamorgan were 9 for 3 in the 3rd over.

The chase was always going to be an uphill battle for Glamorgan, their captain, Sam Northeast opened and carried his bat, he scored 97, hitting ten 4’s and four 6’s in a highly entertaining innings, he faced 56 balls, had he been a bit more clever about taking singles in the final over he may well have reached his century, he deserved to.

Dan Douthwaite scored 34 from 17 balls, hitting two 4’s and three 6’s but Glamorgan fell far short, reaching 185 for 7 in their 20 overs. Essex will play Lancashire at Old Trafford on Friday 8th July after Somerset beat Surrey to finish second and Lancashire beat Birmingham Bears to finish second in their league.