cricket20 :: Text Edition

cricket20

Text Edition

Top Stories

Defiant Essex dent Surrey record

A superb 52 from James Foster was the feature of Essex's thrilling three-wicket triumph against Surrey in their Twenty20 clash at Chelmsford.

Foster scored his runs from only 34 deliveries as Surrey, who had posted a total of 174 for four, were condemned to their season's first defeat in the competition.

After Foster was caught behind off leg spinner Chris Schofield immediately after reaching his half century, former Surrey skipper Adam Hollioake kept the momentum going.

He helped himself to 21 from just 12 balls, including three fours and a six, and once he was out James Middlebrook and Graham Napier saw the home side to the winning post with seven deliveries to spare.

Andy Bichel also played a significant part in Essex's triumph, making 35 from 24 deliveries, two of which he struck for six, before also became a victim of Schofield.

Schofield also got rid of Tim Phillips to finish with three for 31 from his four overs, but it was paceman Matt Nicholson who did the early damage as he captured three wickets in as many overs to finish with three for 23.

In the end, however, their efforts and those of Mark Ramprakash and James Benning were not enough to save the visitors from defeat.

Surrey would have been disappointed with their total. While Benning and Ramprakash were together they looked set for a total of 200 plus as they put together a second wicket stand of 103 in just over 11 overs.

That ended when Benning was bowled by Hollioake for 69, an effort that included eight fours and three sixes during an innings that spanned 48 deliveries.

Ramprakash also faced 48 balls as he ended unbeaten on 74 that contained three sixes among his 10 boundaries.

But in the final overs he did not get a great deal of the strike and Surrey's momentum stalled.

Pakistan leg spinner Danish Kaneria proved the most economical of the six bowlers used by Essex, conceding just 20 in a four over spell that brought him the wicket of Azhar Mahmood.

Text Edition Home

Cricket | Champions League Cricket | IPL | ICL | Twenty20 World Cup