County DIV1 2024, ESSEX vs WORCS 51st Fit Fit Record, August 29 – September 01, 2024

Worcestershire 266 and 303 for 8 (Libby 65, Hose 64, D’Oliveira 51) lead Essex 404 by means of 165 runs

When unhealthy gentle took the avid gamers off the sector with 20 over last on day 3 of the Power County Championship fit, Worcestershire had grew to become a 138-run first-innings deficit right into a 165-run lead.

Libby laid the rules for the restoration with a 112-ball 65 on the best of the order. Nevertheless it was once an 80-run stand for the 6th wicket between D’Oliveira (51 from 71 balls) and Hose (64 off 91) – the pair coming along with two runs nonetheless required to erase the arrears – that gave Worcestershire hope of securing a 3rd successive victory to transport transparent of the relegation house.

Simon Harmer spearheaded the mercurial Essex assault, sending down 26 overs within the foreshortened day and taking 3 for 110, together with the wicket of Hose to an peculiar supply. Essex will probably be on the lookout for a primary victory in 4 video games at the ultimate day to care for their fading passion within the name race.

Nightwatchman Joe Leach lasted simply 4 balls on a gray, overcast morning earlier than Sam Cook dinner ended his 21-ball nought by means of inducing a thick edge thru to the wicketkeeper. Gareth Roderick narrowly have shyed away from a couple earlier than he was once grew to become round by means of Jamie Porter on six and nicked to 2nd slip.

Libby discovered excellent give a boost to from Kashif Ali in a 51-run third-wicket stand till Paul Walter was once offered and along with his fourth ball had Ali following the ball throughout him thru to slide.

Libby survived a few scares however reached his fifty from the ninetieth ball confronted, his 8th 4 helped on its approach prime over the wicketkeeper’s head. His newest spouse Rob Jones took a liking to Harmer, hitting 4 successive barriers, two of them equivalent pictures at the sweep.

Alternatively, the 55-run fourth-wicket stand was once damaged quickly after lunch when Libby drove loosely at Cook dinner and was once stuck low down at backward level. And 6 runs later, Jones went for some other sweep in opposition to Harmer, this time extra uppishly, and Dean Elgar finished the dismissal when working again from sq. leg.

That left Worcestershire 5 down and nonetheless two runs in need of making Essex bat once more. That landmark was once duly completed and constructed on as Hose and D’Oliveira dug in obdurately to start with to the level that Porter got here on for 3 overs and went off once more with out conceding a run. The primary fifty in their partnership took 16 overs.

The run-rate rose steeply with 31 runs added by means of the pair within the subsequent 4 overs earlier than Matt Critchley switched ends to present Harmer a relaxation and primary ball had D’Oliveira fencing to 2nd slip. Harmer’s relaxation spanned the tea spoil however his first ball after the period introduced the downfall of Hose, who padded up outdoor off-stump to a ball that grew to become prodigiously because it hit the crease to go away him bewildered to peer the bails mendacity at the floor in the back of him.

Harmer had a 3rd wicket to his title when Ethan Brookes went to reverse-sweep, as he had effectively on a number of events within the first innings This time, alternatively, the ball popped up off an edge to Robin Das diving full-length at quick leg to grasp on one-handed.

With the floodlights on and the sunshine deteriorating appreciably, Essex declined the choice of taking the new-ball when it was once due after 80 over, sticking with their spinners. The gesture proved in useless because the umpires deemed it too darkish to proceed an over later.