21/09Result
Final (N), Vitality Blast at Birmingham, Sep 21 2019
Essex won by 4 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Simon Harmer
Simon HarmerEssex
21/09Result
Final (N), Vitality Blast at Birmingham, Sep 21 2019
Essex won by 4 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Simon Harmer
Simon HarmerEssex

END OF OVER:
20 | 14 Runs | ESSEX: 144/6 (2 runs required, RR: 7.20)

  • Simon Harmer18 (7b)
  • Ravi Bopara36 (22b)
  • Wayne Parnell4-0-34-2
  • Pat Brown4-0-28-1

"WOO-HOO," says a burst of Blur through the PA... Essex Eagles are the Vitality Blast Champions! Ravi Bopara lifts the trophy alongside Harmer... what a win!

And that is your lot from Edgbaston. Absolute scenes all round in a ridiculous summer of entertainment. Matt Roller and Paul Edwards are all over the coverage from the ground, and David Hopps is bashing out his report, but from Alan and myself, good night and see you in Taunton on Monday for the next big finish to this endlessly bonkers summer!

Zain Munawari: "This has been most entertaining English summer. First, epic world cup final, followed by thrilling Ashes test series, especially Headingley test match and now this T20 final. Can't ask for better than this. A complete package."

9.56pm Now here's Harmer to talk us through the win... they won two of ten in the first rounds..." Four rained-off games, a lot of people wrote us off, but here we stand, that little club in the south-east now has the chance to win the double."

"We are always told we are a small club and we can't do this, but the mentality has to change, we won the championship in 2017 after coming up from division two, and it's time for people to change their perceptions of Essex CCC."

"Ravi was instrumental for us after missing a few games, Dan Lawrence, Ryan Ten Doeschate... when one fails the other picks up the mess. The team culture gets us over the line."

"It felt like I was playing at Chelmsford with a lot of turn on offer, but credit to Worcester for almost going back to back... there wasn't as much dew as I was expecting, but we managed to get over the line."

And on the Championship finale against Somerset next week. "I'm sure it will turn round corners because the weather might play a part and they'll want to get it done in two days..." Bring it on, he roars!

9.50pm Right, time for some champagne-spraying. Here come the presentations. Simon Harmer, obviously, is the Man of the Match.

But first, here's Moeen to make sense of the loss.."We showed great fight, it was a great game and a great spectacle. We were close to winning the game, but as long as Ravi was in I thought they were going to win it."

"We bowled really well but I felt Essex really deserved to win tonight. But it's great for the team to go through [close finishes like] that. We have a great core of players in our side who are matchwinners. No superstars, we just get on with it, but in the final we couldn't get on with it."

"I'm going on holiday in a couple of days, but hopefully get back to playing well for England and Worcestershire soon."

9.45pm So, the podium is in place, and Essex's trophy-cabinet is full at last. They could yet make it a double at Taunton next week, if Harmer and his cohorts can conquer Ciderabad.... and if anyone can, he can!

9.37pm Ravi and Tendo ... five-times finals-day visitors. "This means everything, it's the one trophy both of us don't have in our cabinet," Bopara tells Isa Guha on Sky. Scenes!

"A very, very proud moment," adds Tendo.

"In that Parnell over, I said I don't care if we only get six, you have a go here, I'll get the next over, and try to finish it in the 19th," says Bopara. It didn't quite work out like that, but the cogs were whirring!

9.35pm Handshakes all round ... no repeat triumph for Worcestershire, though they couldn't have taken their defence deeper. And what a moment for Ravi Bopara! 36 not out from 22, but largely a spectator at the death ... Simon Harmer, for the win!

19.6
4
Parnell to Harmer, FOUR, square-driven through point, and the Eagles are soaring! Off go the fireworks! A despairing dive ... but there's no cutting that off! Harmer the hero with the ball and now the bat! What utter nonsensical scenes we have been treated to this summer!

A ring of fielders

Two from one to win the final... we've heard that before this summer to end all summers... though it's actually one as Essex have lost fewer wickets... Parnell looks distraught, but he saved the day in the semi too ... and he's taking an age to compose himself ...

19.5
4
Parnell to Harmer, FOUR, panned as straight as you like! Back over the bowler's head, utterly nailed it!

Parnell's taking a breather as well he might...

19.4
2
Parnell to Harmer, 2 runs, banged in short, flinched in front of square and it's up to Parnell to chase it! Oodles of time to come back for the second...

Zoinks

19.3
2
Parnell to Harmer, 2 runs, slow again, pulled hard to the leg side, they rush back for the second as the fielder has a long chase round the rope...

Abhijato: "BMT? Mo. Nails? Gone. Cricket? Perennially Awesome."

19.2
1
Parnell to Bopara, 1 run, banged in short, clawed across the line, Bopara thumps his pad in frustration as he settles for the single
19.1
1
Parnell to Harmer, 1 run, punched down the ground, Harmer's off the strike straightaway...

END OF OVER:
19 | 11 Runs 1 Wkt | ESSEX: 134/6 (12 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.05, RRR: 12.00)

  • Simon Harmer5 (2b)
  • Ravi Bopara35 (21b)
  • Pat Brown4-0-28-1
  • Wayne Parnell3-0-20-2

12 from six balls ... and the tie will be decided on wickets lost! Or Powerplay if we end up with three wickets here...

18.6
1
Brown to Harmer, 1 run, it's the yorker, well dug out, excellent connection from Harmer, but arguably too good... one bounce to long-off, and Harmer keeps the strike
18.5
4
Brown to Harmer, FOUR, slower ball, picked, slapped, through an outstretched hand for a vital four! Not a lot wrong with that... but Harmer now has licence to have a mow here, and leave Ravi with six balls...

Matt is in awe: "No celebration from Brown! Gun!" He's also setting his field...

18.4
W
Brown to Walter, OUT, out come the timbers! Brilliant composure from Brown! It's the knuckleball, from round the wicket, dipping below a wild slog across the line, a feathered under-edge, and a massive breakthrough!

PI Walter b Brown 14 (23m 16b 1x4 0x6) SR: 87.50

18.3
4
Brown to Walter, FOUR, battered down the ground! Dead-straight and serious power! That's one of them chalked off!
18.2
1
Brown to Bopara, 1 run, cracked across the line, is this the boundary? No! Excellently hauled in at deep midwicket!

Matt: "That recent wide was Worcestershire's first one of the day, and just the fourth extra they've conceded"

18.1
1
Brown to Walter, 1 run, a crunch through the line, straight back past the bowler, just the single

END OF OVER:
18 | 7 Runs | ESSEX: 123/5 (23 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 6.83, RRR: 11.50)

  • Ravi Bopara34 (20b)
  • Paul Walter9 (13b)
  • Wayne Parnell3-0-20-2
  • Pat Brown3-0-17-0

23 from 12 to win the Vitality Blast. Three boundaries... and lots of running?

17.6
2
Parnell to Bopara, 2 runs, flicked to the leg side, and they rattle back for the second. Walter will keep the strike as Essex accept every run going
17.5
1
Parnell to Walter, 1 run, an under-edged thump into the crease, a scamper to get Ravi back on strike
17.4
0
Parnell to Walter, no run, a swing and a miss! So tight to the off stump, and that was 83mph! Walter waiting for the slowie, but that was gone before he could react!
17.3
1
Parnell to Bopara, 1 run, flicked with such intent off the pads, that sounded like four all the way but backward square reacts quickly
17.2
1
Parnell to Walter, 1 run, slowest of the slow bouncers! Walter waited, and waited, and waited, and somehow kept his cut down
17.1
1
Parnell to Bopara, 1 run, round the wicket, angling into the body, and punched out for the single
17.1
1w
Parnell to Bopara, 1 wide, oops, fired down the leg side, trying to cramp the right-hander's levers. But gets it wrong

Wayne Parnell, the hero of the semi. But not in his penultimate over, you may recall ...

END OF OVER:
17 | 9 Runs | ESSEX: 116/5 (30 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.82, RRR: 10.00)

  • Ravi Bopara30 (17b)
  • Paul Walter7 (10b)
  • Pat Brown3-0-17-0
  • Moeen Ali4-0-22-2
16.6
1
Brown to Bopara, 1 run, flogged to the leg side, Brown recovers well from that indignity to keep the pressure on... Ravi keeps the strike
16.5
1lb
Brown to Walter, 1 leg bye, thumps the thigh-pad with a slower-ball ... bouncer? ... long-hop? It's genius disguised as filth, and Walter can't connect!

Essex 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st9T WestleyCS Delport
2nd38T WestleyAJA Wheater
3rd18T WestleyDW Lawrence
4th10RN ten DoeschateDW Lawrence
5th7RS BoparaDW Lawrence
6th47RS BoparaPI Walter
7th19RS BoparaSR Harmer