23/09Result
Final, Bob Willis Trophy at London, Sep 23-27 2020
Match drawn (Essex won on 1st inns)
23/09Result
Final, Bob Willis Trophy at London, Sep 23-27 2020
Match drawn (Essex won on 1st inns)

END OF OVER:
120 | 3 Runs | ESSEX: 337/8

  • Aaron Beard14 (47b)
  • Adam Wheater26 (65b)
  • Craig Overton29-6-66-1
  • Josh Davey23-3-70-0

12.05pm So, that strange finish notwithstanding, you have to give credit to Aaron Beard in particular for toughing it out from No.10, and ensuring a lead of 36. But equally, Somerset stuck to their task, refused to give away cheap runs after losing the chance for a first-innings lead. But with 25 minutes to go before lunch, there's a big chance for Essex to have two goes with the new ball... Back shortly for the resumption.

Alan Hardy: "They really DID dead-bat the last over!"

Johnnie: "Andrew - is Alan Hardy a relation. I've never seen so many comments in so short a time from one listener." If no-pne else wants to talk to me, I'll make do with grumpy uncles! Besides, have you never heard of Abhijato?

119.6
0
Overton to Beard, no run, banged in short, Wheater sits on his bat once more, no attempt to run the bye. Odd, in the extreme. But, most importantly, Essex have a lead, and turned it into a healthy one
119.5
0
Overton to Beard, no run, well, that's just dumb cricket from Wheater. Happy to defend his efforts so far, but there was a clear single to the leg side there, and Beard ended up running two to get back in his crease
119.4
1
Overton to Wheater, 1 run, a wristy drive to deep point, just another single

Alan Hardy: "One over left. They should dead-bat these 6 balls. Best to play it safe...." Yeah, can't be too careful

119.3
1
Overton to Beard, 1 run, firmly drilled to deep cover, hopping back and across
119.2
0
Overton to Beard, no run, Beard attempts a bit of a ramp, I suspect he anticipated that one being right up his hooter, but he can't connect, and winces as Davies gathers
119.1
1
Overton to Wheater, 1 run, back of a length, punched on the up to cover, just the single

END OF OVER:
119 | 5 Runs | ESSEX: 334/8

  • Adam Wheater24 (63b)
  • Aaron Beard13 (43b)
  • Josh Davey23-3-70-0
  • Craig Overton28-6-63-1

Right, six balls. Time to throw the front dog a juicy bone...

118.6
1
Davey to Wheater, 1 run, drilled on the up into the covers, Wheater keeps the strike
118.5
1
Davey to Beard, 1 run, a big wind-up from Beard, wafted out to deep square leg as he connects with a mow across the line. The entire field is back now, bar Overton at deep point
118.4
1
Davey to Wheater, 1 run, back of a length, flicked with solid wrists to backward square. A healthy diet of singles in this over

Kevin: "Have they forgotten the innings ends afar 120 overs?! " On the contrary, they are literally batting the overs, which is a trick that my club has yet to learn...

118.3
0
Davey to Wheater, no run, wide of off stump, can't reach that one on the cut
118.2
1
Davey to Beard, 1 run, makes room for a flog through the line, toe-ended to mid-off, another single
118.1
1
Davey to Wheater, 1 run, on the charge now from Wheater, galloping to the pitch, and flicking firmly out to deep midwicket. Just the single, but the intent is plain

END OF OVER:
118 | 3 Runs | ESSEX: 329/8

  • Adam Wheater21 (59b)
  • Aaron Beard11 (41b)
  • Craig Overton28-6-63-1
  • Josh Davey22-3-65-0

Rose: "@LxzzknK We managed promotion and an immediate Div1 win without him, he didn't play in our successful T20 Blast campaign last year and he wasn't the star in our Div 1 win last year. Cook is a legend but Essex is a great team with or without him" Well, there you go!

117.6
1
Overton to Wheater, 1 run, on the back foot, flashed out to deep point, good contact as Wheater keeps the strike
117.5
0
Overton to Wheater, no run, loopy leg-sided bouncer, very short, and nearly called a wide
117.4
1
Overton to Beard, 1 run, patted to cover, a direct hit would have been gone, but the shy goes wide
117.3
0
Overton to Beard, no run, a swish across the line, as Beard takes on the bouncer this time, as well he might. No contact, but the right intent

Saoirse: "23 runs is nice but I can't help feeling a bit disappointed with the run rate of this partnership, especially with how talented a bat Wheater is"

117.2
0
Overton to Beard, no run, short and sharp! Round the wicket, proper head-hunting aggression, as Beard is sent crumpling to the crease to avoid it
117.1
1
Overton to Wheater, 1 run, on the back foot, tapped to the on-side and an insta-call. Somerset were a bit slow on the uptake there. The single was too easy

END OF OVER:
117 | 2 Runs | ESSEX: 326/8

  • Aaron Beard10 (38b)
  • Adam Wheater19 (56b)
  • Josh Davey22-3-65-0
  • Craig Overton27-6-60-1

Three more to go. One big over puts 340 in reach. That would be a vindication of this approach...

116.6
0
Davey to Beard, no run, whittled off the pads, but straight to square leg

Beard retakes his guard. He's still digging in

116.5
0
Davey to Beard, no run, closes the face on impact, turned to the on-side

Alan Hardy: "Actually, Cook ha s a Test bowling average of 7, let us not forget :)" Lies, damn lies etc...

116.4
0
Davey to Beard, no run, pushed back into the crease, poked to cover with an angled bat
116.3
2
Davey to Beard, 2 runs, excellent busy running, guided down to third man, and the pace is such that they can hustle back for the second

JrSuede: "Some interesting dynamic with the tie-breaker rule. Wonder if the World Test Championship will use it too?" If it ever gets going properly...

116.2
0
Davey to Beard, no run, firm in defence, back down the line of the ball
116.1
0
Davey to Beard, no run, tucked off the legs, midwicket gathers

END OF OVER:
116 | 2 Runs | ESSEX: 324/8

  • Adam Wheater19 (56b)
  • Aaron Beard8 (32b)
  • Craig Overton27-6-60-1
  • Josh Davey21-3-63-0

Gary richards: "Alan only 2 wickets left every run priceless " I concur

115.6
0
Overton to Wheater, no run, outside off, a tempter there, a bit of outswing. If I was Wheater I'd have flung the kitchen sink at that. And holed out to cover, obviously. That's why he's there, and I'm here!

Match Coverage

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Essex 4th innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st25AN CookNLJ Browne
2nd1AN CookT Westley
3rd42AN CookDW Lawrence
4th30DW LawrencePI Walter
5th33RN ten DoeschatePI Walter
6th48RN ten DoeschateAJA Wheater
7th0AJA WheaterSR Harmer