smashed on the up, out to deep midwicket... there's a man back there... but he can't get round in time! Hampshire rush back for the second run, and seal a thriller with five balls to spare!
5.54pm Essex made all the running they could... and looked to have blown the title race wide open at 32 for 4... but Liam Dawson's brilliant hundred, allied to James Vince's 89 and a spate of crucial dropped catches, have all but handed the title to Surrey... I'm off to try and make some sense of that!
chopped into the off-side again ... and straight at the fielder! It's all coming down to Harmer!
hacked hard on the cut, but straight at backward point
runs past the glory shot! Looked to launch it into the Hayes Close, but can't connect. Rossington whips off the bails and there'll be a new man in Critchley's sights
pops into the leg side, straight at short midwicket
nudged off the hips out to deep midwicket, cut off in the deep
another reverse-sweep, lamped through the covers! Barker halves the requirement in one lusty blow!
rocks back on the cut, out to deep point
Three men round the bat
nudged out to the leg-side, another single. Essex need snookers now
down the track and connects sweetly on this one! Thumped through wide long-on!
big-spinning offbreak, rips into the pads, hopeful appeal but a precious dot
down the track, can't make proper contact in search of the single
nails the reverse-sweep, clean through backward square! The requirement dips below a run a ball, as the sun bursts out once more
clattered at Browne's midriff at short cover, and he clings on with a juggle! Here ends a mighty innings, but has he given Essex a sniff with victory looming?
County Ground, Chelmsford | |
Toss | Essex, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Match days | 19,20,21,22 September 2023 - day (4-day match) |
Umpires | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Hampshire 20, Essex 6 |