- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR62.1 Walter climbs across the pull and is guzzled down the leg-side by a flying Foakes! What a way to miss out on a century! And his average as opener tumbles to 72.00 226/319.4 skids through, pins Allison on the pads, deep in his crease. That's plumb! Lawrence strikes against his old team! 78/135.6 a loose flick across the fuller length, and a dolly of a catch straight to Jamie Smith at midwicket. The runs had dried up and Surrey make their incision 126/2139.4 slog-swept to deep midwicket! Picked it up from outside off, didn't quite get hold of the ball, nor keep it down. Sibley does the needful to end a massive stand 534/5Extras25 (b 5, lb 6, nb 14)TOTAL582/6d (147.2 Overs, RR: 3.95)Fall of wickets: 1-78 (Charlie Allison, 19.4 ov), 2-126 (Tom Westley, 35.6 ov), 3-226 (Paul Walter, 62.1 ov), 4-318 (Jordan Cox, 83.3 ov), 5-534 (Michael Pepper, 139.4 ov), 6-582 (Noah Thain, 147.2 ov)
Bowling O M R W Econ WD NB KAJ Roach 26 4 84 2 3.23 0 2 J Clark 27 6 71 0 2.62 0 0 MD Fisher 25 6 102 1 4.08 0 0 JPA Taylor 29 5 107 0 3.68 0 4 DW Lawrence 35.2 2 169 3 4.78 0 0 RS Patel 5 0 38 0 7.6 0 1
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR54.1 ball on a string for Harmer, and it's two in two! Round the wicket, looped up to the left-handed Burns, who leans forward but can't cover the dip and turn. A flick off the edge, into the keeper's gloves. Now then... 148/43.2 Man the lifeboats! There's been a wicket at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground! Cook hits his length with a bit of nip back, into the shin, up goes the finger! That is iceberg-dead-ahead plumb 8/144.1 back of a length, shaping back in, Pope leans half-forward and is bowled around the outside edge! He had his life yesterday, but he's gone without addition today! 111/253.6 loose and expansive, and Smith loses his off stump! He was striding into the drive, without due care or attention, looking to launch it on the up but Snater got just enough nip to beat him through the gate! Surrey lose their second of the morning 148/356.2 super low catch at slip, things are starting to happen now! Harmer once more, over the wicket, turning the ball sharply back at his former team-mate, who plays defensively off the back foot but picks out Cox, stooping low to his right at slip! 156/566.1 four men round the bat, Patel covers the initial angle from round the wicket then tries to withdraw his bat, but he can't get it out of the firing line! A graze of willow through to Pepper, and Surrey are sinking fast! 180/687.4 Full length from Cook, Clark tries to come forward but doesn't get out of his crease. Thudded on the pad and Essex break the key stand! 251/7104.6 Round the wicket from Harmer, looped up and skidding through on a leg-stump line. Fisher plays back without conviction and is beaten off the pitch. Key breakthrough! 306/8126.6 Googly, right up into the blockhole! Taylor prods forward as the ball grips just enough to rip back through his gate. Surrey are nine down! 356/9129.5 Legbreak, looped onto a full length, grips and turns into a planted front pad. Surrey will follow on! 365/9Extras20 (b 8, lb 12)TOTAL365 all out (129.5 Overs, RR: 2.81)Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Dom Sibley, 3.2 ov), 2-111 (Ollie Pope, 44.1 ov), 3-148 (Jamie Smith, 53.6 ov), 4-148 (Rory Burns, 54.1 ov), 5-156 (Dan Lawrence, 56.2 ov), 6-180 (Ryan Patel, 66.1 ov), 7-251 (Jordan Clark, 87.4 ov), 8-306 (Matthew Fisher, 104.6 ov), 9-356 (James Taylor, 126.6 ov), 10-365 (Kemar Roach, 129.5 ov)
- BATSMENRBM4s6sSR18.1 round the wicket, looped onto a full length, and gripping just enough to turn back in Burns' pads, as he plays from deep in the crease. The first wicket of the follow-on! 38/119.1 full length from Snater and flashy from Pope! A loose drive, throwing the hands without conviction as the ball seams just enough, and Pepper grabs the edge! Two wickets in as many overs! 39/233.6 Chaos reigns! Jamie Smith has been run out in Keystone Cops fashion! An angled bat from Sibley, guiding the ball down past slip for an easy single. But then, inexplicably, he decided to hurtle back for the second, even though Smith was deeply unsure it was wise... he eventually set off almost as his team-mate arrived back at the striker's end, and nearly got away with it as Pepper fumbled his initial attempt to fire the ball down to the far end. But he got it right in the end, as it did Critchley, with a smart gather on the bounce to break the stumps... and the stand 81/3Extras17 (b 8, lb 5, nb 4)TOTAL219/6 (f/o) (97 Overs, RR: 2.25)Fall of wickets: 1-38 (Rory Burns, 18.1 ov), 2-39 (Ollie Pope, 19.1 ov), 3-81 (Jamie Smith, 33.6 ov), 4-181 (Dom Sibley, 75.1 ov), 5-198 (Ben Foakes, 81.3 ov), 6-215 (Dan Lawrence, 95.1 ov)
Match Details
Toss
Essex , elected to bat first
Season
Hours of play (local time)
11.00 start, Lunch 13.00-13.40, Tea 15.40-16.00, Close 18.00
Match days
4,5,6,7 April 2025 (4-day match)
First-class debut
Umpires
Match Referee
Points
Essex 14, Surrey 11
Close of Play
- Fri, 4 Apr - day 1 - Essex 1st innings 356/4 (MJJ Critchley 45*, MS Pepper 18*, 96 ov)
- Sat, 5 Apr - day 2 - Surrey 1st innings 109/1 (RJ Burns 59*, OJ Pope 45*, 42 ov)
- Sun, 6 Apr - day 3 - Surrey 2nd innings 9/0 (RJ Burns 5*, DP Sibley 0*, 6 ov)
- Mon, 7 Apr - day 4 - Surrey 2nd innings 219/6 (97 ov) - end of match
Match Coverage
All Match NewsSibley, Foakes dig deep as chastened Surrey escape with draw
Chaotic run-out buoys Essex before champions regroup in follow-on
Foakes rearguard holds up Essex but Surrey made to follow on
Former Chelmsford academy product makes four-and-a-half hour 92 not out
Essex content as season opener turns into snooze cruise
It's full steam ahead for batters at Chelmsford with Surrey looking to stay afloat
Jordan Cox, Paul Walter make champions Surrey toil at Chelmsford
New-look opening pair set stage before middle-order put big runs on the board against visitors