BATTING		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Nick Browne	c Robson b De Caires	59	108	136	9	0	54.62

Alastair Cook	lbw b De Caires	58	127	147	9	0	45.66

Tom Westley (c)	b De Caires	19	27	28	4	0	70.37

Dan Lawrence	c †Simpson b Bamber	13	18	30	2	0	72.22

Matt Critchley	lbw b Roland-Jones	36	85	120	6	0	42.35

Paul Walter	b De Caires	2	15	27	0	0	13.33

Adam Rossington †	c Hollman b De Caires	37	62	75	6	0	59.67

Simon Harmer	c Roland-Jones b De Caires	16	50	65	2	0	32.00

Umesh Yadav	c Stoneman b De Caires	18	16	20	2	1	112.50

Sam Cook	c Higgins b De Caires	19	40	78	2	0	47.50

Jamie Porter	not out	10	45	38	1	0	22.22
Extras	(b 4, lb 7, nb 6)	17
TOTAL	98.2 Ov (RR: 3.09)	304
Fall of wickets: 1-122 (Nick Browne, 38.2 ov), 2-135 (Alastair Cook, 40.6 ov), 3-148 (Tom Westley, 44.5 ov), 4-162 (Dan Lawrence, 47.6 ov), 5-169 (Paul Walter, 54.4 ov), 6-235 (Adam Rossington, 72.4 ov), 7-235 (Matt Critchley, 73.3 ov), 8-260 (Umesh Yadav, 78.5 ov), 9-279 (Simon Harmer, 88.2 ov), 10-304 (Sam Cook, 98.2 ov)

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Ethan Bamber	18	4	51	1	2.83	85	9	0	0	0
47.6 to DW Lawrence, strangled down the leg-side! An attempted flick off the hip, but nothing more than a graze to the keeper. Middlesex's fightback gathers pace!. 162/4
Toby Roland-Jones	19	5	58	1	3.05	90	10	0	0	0
73.3 to MJJ Critchley, pinned on the pads and now Critchley goes too! Roland-Jones finds the right length to rap the knee-roll as Critchley presses half forward, and Essex are almost done. 235/7
Joshua De Caires	39.2	8	106	8	2.69	179	12	1	0	0
38.2 to NLJ Browne, flinched off the hip, and into the hands of short leg! Browne throws his head back, he was on for a big one there, but that ends a fine century partnership. 122/1 40.6 to AN Cook, Cook's day is done! Round the wicket, pitches on off and straightens, Cook thrusts his front pad down the pitch and up goes the finger. Close to getting outside the line, but seemed fair enough. De Caires has both openers now. 135/2 44.5 to T Westley, big turn! No shot from Westley, as the ball grips and leaps into his gloves, and back onto the top of middle. Suddenly this surface is threatening to rag... and after that serene morning session, Essex have some work to do. 148/3 54.4 to PI Walter, another fateful leave! Walter leant out of the crease with no footwork, expected that one to straighten past the stumps from round the wicket, but it just hopped obediently on, to hit off stump. De Caires has four!. 169/5 72.4 to AM Rossington, swings for the fences but doesn't get enough of it! Rossington advances down the pitch, from round the wicket, taking on the long-on ropes, but Hollman judges the ball well and keeps his balance inside the rope to end a useful partnership. De Caires has his fifth after an exceptional day's work. 235/6 78.5 to UT Yadav, holes out this time! Another massive wind-up, taking on the long-on rope. Stoneman sets himself well and atones for his earlier miss. Six for de Caires, and he's on for a career best. 260/8 88.2 to SR Harmer, De Caires is hauled back to finish what he started... and almost immediately he lures Simon Harmer into a wild hack to long-off! Down the track, aiming across the line, a steepling leading edge!. 279/9 98.2 to SJ Cook, looped up outside off, a flaccid waft off the back foot and Higgins picks off a simple edge to slip. De Caires cements his career-best figures of 8 for 106. A mighty effort. 304/10
Ryan Higgins	14	5	39	0	2.78	71	7	0	0	2
Luke Hollman	6	0	27	0	4.50	23	3	0	0	1
Sam Robson	2	0	12	0	6.00	6	2	0	0	0

Middlesex 1st Innings

BATTING		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Mark Stoneman	c Walter b Porter	8	13	10	1	0	61.53

Sam Robson	b Porter	10	15	30	2	0	66.66

Joe Cracknell	c Harmer b Porter	0	4	4	0	0	0.00

Jack Davies	lbw b SJ Cook	5	12	22	1	0	41.66

Max Holden	c & b Porter	30	76	96	4	0	39.47

John Simpson †	lbw b Porter	16	54	58	3	0	29.62

Ryan Higgins	b SJ Cook	44	55	82	7	0	80.00

Luke Hollman	lbw b SJ Cook	20	38	40	3	1	52.63

Joshua De Caires	not out	29	33	43	6	0	87.87
Toby Roland-Jones (c)	c Critchley b Harmer	11	15	21	2	0	73.33

Ethan Bamber	lbw b Porter	0	10	14	0	0	0.00

Extras	(lb 2, nb 4)	6
TOTAL	53.5 Ov (RR: 3.32)	179
Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Mark Stoneman, 2.1 ov), 2-8 (Joe Cracknell, 2.5 ov), 3-21 (Sam Robson, 6.5 ov), 4-25 (Jack Davies, 7.2 ov), 5-59 (John Simpson, 23.5 ov), 6-100 (Max Holden, 33.1 ov), 7-138 (Luke Hollman, 43.3 ov), 8-143 (Ryan Higgins, 45.2 ov), 9-168 (Toby Roland-Jones, 50.4 ov), 10-179 (Ethan Bamber, 53.5 ov)

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Jamie Porter	12.5	1	34	6	2.64	62	3	0	0	2
2.1 to MD Stoneman, round the wicket, a full length outside off, and flashed on the up into the covers! A touch lazy with his footwork, not quite to the pitch, and pays the price. 8/1 2.5 to JB Cracknell, angled in from back of a length, follows the new batter into his splice, fenced low into the cordon and scooped up by Harmer at second slip! Middlesex are in all sorts of bother, and Harmer hasn't even got started in his day-job. 8/2 6.5 to SD Robson, splat! Off pole out of the ground as Robson plays down the wrong line, that straightened just a touch on a perfect length and thumped the outside half of the stump. This innings is going south. 21/3 23.5 to JA Simpson, pinned on the pads from round the wicket and Porter has his fourth! Looked a touch high to the naked eye, but the finger went straight up! Maybe clipping the top of leg, as he was a long way back. 59/5 33.1 to MDE Holden, poked in the air, back down the pitch, Porter swoops in his followthrough to claim his fifth!. 100/6 53.5 to ER Bamber, pinned on the pads again, and that's a wrap! Up goes the finger, as Porter secures the fine figures of 6 for 34, and a 125-run lead. 179/10 See all photos
Sam Cook	10	1	43	3	4.30	44	9	0	0	0
7.2 to JLB Davies, pinned on the pad, another one gone! Round the wicket, full length, Davies is half forward without any conviction and that's nailed him on the shin. 25/4 43.3 to LBK Hollman, full length once again from round the wicket, pinned on the pads and up goes the finger again! The bowling change does the trick as a solid stand ends. 138/7 45.2 to RF Higgins, spanks the stumps and Cook has three! Back of a length, nips a touch off the seam, Higgins is slow to get into line and that's the end of a gutsy innings. 143/8
Simon Harmer	22	6	73	1	3.31	101	12	1	0	0
50.4 to TS Roland-Jones, slog-swept, high on the blade, top-edged out to deep midwicket, where Critchley jogs in and judges it well. Harmer has his overdue first wicket. 168/9
Umesh Yadav	9	2	27	0	3.00	43	5	0	0	0

Essex 2nd Innings

BATTING		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Nick Browne	c †Simpson b Roland-Jones	35	78	81	5	0	44.87

Alastair Cook	c †Simpson b Robson	84	178	249	9	0	47.19

Tom Westley (c)	lbw b Bamber	47	106	155	4	0	44.33

Dan Lawrence	c Robson b De Caires	26	26	51	2	0	100.00

Matt Critchley	st †Simpson b Higgins	65	65	81	7	1	100.00

Paul Walter	c Davies b De Caires	2	4	10	0	0	50.00

Adam Rossington †	c Davies b Robson	12	14	19	1	0	85.71

Simon Harmer	not out	20	14	21	2	1	142.85
Umesh Yadav	not out	5	2	7	1	0	250.00
Extras	(b 2, lb 19, nb 2)	23
TOTAL	81 Ov (RR: 3.93)	319/7d
Did not bat: Sam Cook, Jamie Porter
Fall of wickets: 1-64 (Nick Browne, 20.6 ov), 2-178 (Tom Westley, 58.3 ov), 3-182 (Alastair Cook, 61.1 ov), 4-239 (Dan Lawrence, 71.3 ov), 5-249 (Paul Walter, 73.2 ov), 6-283 (Adam Rossington, 77.1 ov), 7-311 (Matt Critchley, 80.2 ov)

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Ethan Bamber	14	4	51	1	3.64	64	9	0	0	0
58.3 to T Westley, tight line from Bamber, just back of a length, Westley whips across the line and is pinned on the pads. Straight and aiming at the knee-roll, fair enough decision. 178/2
Joshua De Caires	27	4	84	2	3.11	105	7	0	0	0
71.3 to DW Lawrence, dumps a drive straight at mid-off, and Lawrence becomes De Caires' ninth wicket of the match. Robson swallows the chance, reverse-cupped in front of his chest. 239/4 73.2 to PI Walter, down on one knee, climbs into the slog-sweep, and picks out deep midwicket, set back on the rope! De Caires has his maiden ten-for!. 249/5
Ryan Higgins	6	0	32	1	5.33	17	3	0	0	0
80.2 to MJJ Critchley, the fun's over this time. Gives Higgins the wild swing to leg, drags his toe in the process, and Simpson whips off the bails. Sharp work. 311/7
Toby Roland-Jones	13	3	29	1	2.23	60	3	0	0	0
20.6 to NLJ Browne, back of a length, Browne has an involuntary stab of the gloves outside the line, and snicks through to the keeper for Middlesex's first wicket. 64/1
Luke Hollman	16	2	66	0	4.12	56	6	1	0	0
Sam Robson	5	0	36	2	7.20	12	3	1	0	1
61.1 to AN Cook, There'll be no century for Sir Alastair! Round the wicket from Robson, a big legbreak follows Cook as he rocks back to cut and it's just a feathered edge through to the keeper. Off he troops to a ripple of applause, with a modest wave of the bat as he goes. 182/3 77.1 to AM Rossington, reverse-sweep, connects very well but Davies at deep cover rushes round on the rope, grabs well, releases as he steps out of play, and swallows the relay very coolly. Good tekkers, and the declaration is drawing closer. 283/6

Middlesex 2nd Innings (T: 445 runs)

BATTING		R	B	M	4s	6s	SR
Sam Robson	c Lawrence b Harmer	18	21	27	4	0	85.71

Mark Stoneman	c Critchley b Yadav	6	47	71	0	0	12.76

Joe Cracknell	lbw b Harmer	12	19	15	2	0	63.15

Jack Davies	c AN Cook b Yadav	1	10	15	0	0	10.00

Max Holden	c †Rossington b Yadav	12	23	32	1	0	52.17

John Simpson †	lbw b Critchley	32	72	81	5	0	44.44

Ryan Higgins	b Critchley	21	96	124	1	0	21.87

Luke Hollman	c Browne b Harmer	15	17	19	3	0	88.23

Joshua De Caires	c Browne b Harmer	1	7	10	0	0	14.28
Toby Roland-Jones (c)	c †Rossington b Harmer	13	32	39	2	0	40.62

Ethan Bamber	not out	4	8	9	1	0	50.00
Extras	(b 8, nb 4)	12
TOTAL	58.2 Ov (RR: 2.52)	147
Fall of wickets: 1-24 (Sam Robson, 6.2 ov), 2-36 (Joe Cracknell, 10.4 ov), 3-41 (Jack Davies, 13.5 ov), 4-42 (Mark Stoneman, 17.4 ov), 5-55 (Max Holden, 21.5 ov), 6-97 (John Simpson, 40.1 ov), 7-113 (Luke Hollman, 44.3 ov), 8-115 (Joshua De Caires, 46.3 ov), 9-143 (Ryan Higgins, 55.4 ov), 10-147 (Toby Roland-Jones, 58.2 ov)

BOWLING	O	M	R	W	ECON	0s	4s	6s	WD	NB
Jamie Porter	6	2	25	0	4.16	29	4	0	0	2
Sam Cook	9	3	22	0	2.44	43	3	0	0	0
Simon Harmer	24.2	11	43	5	1.76	127	5	0	0	0
6.2 to SD Robson, That's more like it! Pops and turns, and pouched with a dive at leg slip. Lawrence made excellent ground, grabbed that nearer leg fully in the end. 24/1 10.4 to JB Cracknell, pinned on the pad, and Harmer has his second! This one bites wickedly from outside off and keeps low too. Playing back fatefully, with nowhere to go. 36/2 44.3 to LBK Hollman, Harmer's back into the attack, and once again a change of spinner brings the breakthrough! Pushing forward, Hollman pops a simple catch to Browne at silly mid-off. We might yet be in for an extra half-hour here. 113/7 46.3 to JM De Caires, . 115/8 58.2 to TS Roland-Jones, It's the worst ball of his spell, but Harmer won't care! His 34th five-wicket haul for Essex seals the contest with seven minutes of the day to spare. A long-hop, spanked hard at short leg, rebounds to the keeper. A redoubtable win. 147/10 See all photos
Umesh Yadav	12	2	32	3	2.66	55	4	0	0	0
13.5 to JLB Davies, Yadav bags his first Essex wicket, and now this victory push is taking shape for the hosts. Bends back in at pace, on an off-stump line, thumps the edge and deflects straight into Alastair Cook's breadbasket at first slip. 41/3 17.4 to MD Stoneman, another one nudged to slip and that will be tea! Hard lengths once more from Umesh, round the wicket, flinched low to Critchley at third slip who scoops up well. 42/4 21.5 to MDE Holden, sharp pace from over the wicket, hits a good length outside off, induces a flinch and Rossington does the rest. Yadav has the third of an excellent display. 55/5 See all photos
Matt Critchley	7	1	17	2	2.42	35	3	0	0	0
40.1 to JA Simpson, change of ends for Critchley, and it does the trick! Round the wicket, grips and turns back into the left-hander, pinned on the back foot and this could yet be over tonight.... 97/6 55.4 to RF Higgins, ripper! Tossed up on middle and leg, bites as it dips and pitches, and pings the top of off. We're almost there.. 143/9

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CLOSE OF PLAY

Mon, 04 Sep - day 1 - Essex 1st innings 303/9 (Sam Cook 19*, Jamie Porter 9*, 96 ov)

Tue, 05 Sep - day 2 - Essex 2nd innings 104/1 (Alastair Cook 44*, Tom Westley 17*, 37 ov)

Wed, 06 Sep - day 3 - Middlesex 2nd innings 147 (58.2 ov) - end of match

MATCH FLOW

Day 3

Middlesex 2nd innings
Batting and bowling points: Essex 5, Middlesex 3

MATCH DETAILS

County Ground, Chelmsford
Toss	Essex, elected to bat first
Series	County Championship Division One
Season	2023
Match days	4,5,6 September 2023 - day (4-day match)
Umpires	Ian Blackwell Russell Warren
Match Referee	Jason Swift
Points	Essex 21, Middlesex 3

Language

English

Match Coverage

All Match News

Simon Harmer takes five as Essex march on at expense of sorry Middlesex

Yadav impresses on county debut as title challengers seal victory in closing minutes of day three

Jamie Porter hands Middlesex a repeat dose as Essex stay alive in title race

Seamer's six-for echoes opening-round rout as Cook builds on 125-run lead at Chelmsford

Josh De Caires' seven-for gives Middlesex a grip after runaway Essex start

Cook, Browne fifties drive title challengers, as Harmer awaits on spinning deck

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Middlesex Innings

PLAYER NAME		R	B
SD Robson	caught	18	21
MD Stoneman	caught	6	47
JB Cracknell	lbw	12	19
JLB Davies	caught	1	10
MDE Holden	caught	12	23
JA Simpson	lbw	32	72
RF Higgins	bowled	21	96
LBK Hollman	caught	15	17
JM De Caires	caught	1	7
TS Roland-Jones	caught	13	32
ER Bamber	not out	4	8
Extras	(b 8, nb 4)
Total	147(10 wkts; 58.2 ovs)

PLAYER NAME	O	M	R	W	Econ
JA Porter	6	2	25	0	4.16 (2 nb)
SJ Cook	9	3	22	0	2.44
SR Harmer	24.2	11	43	5	1.76
UT Yadav	12	2	32	3	2.66
MJJ Critchley	7	1	17	2	2.42

WKT	RUNS	PLAYERS
1st	24	Mark Stoneman	Sam Robson
2nd	12	Mark Stoneman	Joe Cracknell
3rd	5	Mark Stoneman	Jack Davies
4th	1	Mark Stoneman	Max Holden
5th	13	John Simpson	Max Holden
6th	42	John Simpson	Ryan Higgins
7th	16	Ryan Higgins	Luke Hollman
8th	2	Ryan Higgins	Joshua De Caires
9th	28	Toby Roland-Jones	Ryan Higgins
10th	4	Toby Roland-Jones	Ethan Bamber

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County Championship Division One

TEAM	M	W	L	D	PT
SURR	14	8	2	4	216
ESSEX	14	7	3	4	196
HANTS	14	8	4	2	192
WARKS	14	6	4	4	179
LANCS	14	3	1	10	161
NOTTS	14	4	4	6	151
SOM	14	3	4	7	148
KENT	14	2	7	5	111
MIDDX	14	3	9	2	104
NHNTS	14	2	8	4	96

Full Table