I have an unpopular article to write up after going to The Hundred at The Oval – and having a thoroughly enjoyable time, but the reaction of a handful of Essex ‘fans’ on social media after today’s game has me wanting/needing to write about today’s match. Having my own site gives me my own platform at times to give my own opinions. As a Saracens and Owen Farrell fan social media has been a pretty vile place to be for a couple of weeks now. I didn’t expect a group set up for Essex fans to be similar – so, here goes! (I”ll add photos of the Surrey innings tomorrow)
Cricket – a game played by 2 teams of 11 – in this instance with 50 overs bowled by each side – that, is 300 balls to be precise. So 300 balls to face with the bat and 300 to bowl.
Both teams were missing the majority of their chosen County Championship teams and Surrey lost their captain and opener Rory Burns in the warm up, 17 year old Krish Patel was a late replacement.
Neither county has covered themselves in glory in this competition and Essex have failed to bat the full 50 overs in a few of their games, today they batted for the full 50 and saved a position when they were at 79 for 4 when Noah Thain and Beau Webster put on 109 for the 5th wicket. 18 year old Thain scored 69 from 86 balls and Webster went on to score 69 from 86 balls. A partnership that meant this innings would go the full 50.
Ben Allison and Jamal Richards put on 52 for the 9th wicket, Allison contributing 17 runs and Richard 31*. That all added up to 259 for 9 for Essex. Conor McKerr took 4 for 55 in his 10 overs.
Photos of the Essex innings, I love getting the wickets shots, not so much when it’s an Essex player! (sorry lads!)
Surrey conceded just 11 extras, to the 24 conceded by Essex – something to bear in mind as you read through.
A confession from me now, as well as being a general lover of this game I’m also a Surrey member alongside being an Essex member and fan. If Surrey aren’t playing Essex I support them and I definitely enjoy seeing their players do well. One such is Ryan Patel; a player who hasn’t been given much of a chance this season.
Patel opened with Dom Sibley, who was out for a Duck, knocking a ball into his stumps from the bowling of Aaron Beard, a key wicket, he’s a player who can stay in for a long time! Patel went on to score 117 runs from 119 balls, his was the 7th wicket to fall and he was supported by Josh Blake with 27, Krish Patel, a late replacement for Burns, with 30 – what a dream for him! And McKerr with a useful 20.
Photos of the Surrey innings with Jamal Richards in full flow too!
This game was another nail biter as were both the Middlesex and Leicestershire games, one went the way of Essex the other 2 didn’t. A few of the youngest players in the group shown at times with both Charlie Allison and Noah Thain, at 18, excelling with the bat. Beau Webster, called up from Upminster has been great to watch, he’s bowled both spin and seam in the same over, which is interesting and bizarre! I wasn’t able to make as many games as I’d have liked but I’ve enjoyed what I have seen, sometimes the winning isn’t everything.
365 Sporting Days 