After just 10.1 overs in the previous two days play and Friday's play (day 3) completely abandoned without a ball bowled, this Championship match looked to be going nowhere until the two captains, England one-day team-mates Ronnie Irani and Ashley Giles, conjured up what looked set to be a thrilling run chase.

Warwickshire had already declared their first innings on Friday at 446-7 and Essex went out in their first innings to face the 'declaration bowlers' of Nick Night and Dominic Ostler. Darren Robinson and Will Jefferson carted 66 for no loss off only 4 overs, with Robbo unbeaten on 42 off only 15 balls and Jeffers 20 not out from 11 balls.

At this stage, Essex declared and with Warwickshire then forfeiting their second innings, this left Essex a target of 381 inside 91 overs and with the batting strong and a short boundary on one side of the Edgbaston wicket, it looked set to be an interesting last day.

Another excellent start by Robbo and Jeffers again made this possible, as they hit 88 for the first wicket. Essex were well up with the rate required, but Will Jefferson played across a full-length Mo Sheikh delivery to be adjudged lbw for an excellent 49 off as many balls and 1 one short of yet another half-century.

Paul Grayson hanged around with Robbo for 40 second wicket runs, until he went back when perhaps he should have played forward and was bowled by Betts for 28, 128-2.

At this stage we were still on course, but two more quick wickets left the result in doubt, as first Robbo fell for a fantastic 56 caught behind by Frost off Betts and then Aftab Habib fell for 0, lbw to Ashley Giles, as the captain's of both sides then entered the fore.

This left us 148-4 but then what looked to be a match-winning partnership, as Andy Flower joined Ronnie Irani to add 132 together in 26 rollicking overs.

Flower got off the mark with two consecutive sixes off Giles and went onto 55 from 80 balls with 3 fours to add to his two sixes.

Ronnie himself smashed 87 off 91 balls with four maximums and 9 fours and at tea Essex were on course for a win.

However, Giles then turned the tables with the wickets of both inside 20 runs of eachother and at 300-6, Essex long batting needed to show this status again.

James Foster kept the tempo up with Jon Dakin with 30 for the 7th wicket and they took the equation to only 53 from 16 overs, until Fossy went to an edge off Betts to be caught behind for 24 in only 21 balls, just what was needed.

James Middlebrook then joined Dakes and the pair added a stand of 35 which looked to be taking Essex home with a full compliment of win points. Dakin launched into the bowling with 23 including a six and two fours, but with Essex just 16 runs short of a great win, he fell to the foruth lbw of the innings to Richardson and Essex were 365-8 now.

But, with Graham Napier, who has scored a first-class century and a handful of fifties also, Essex looked good when they advanced to 379-8, meaning two to win. But, then another lbw saw Middlbrook go to Giles for a cameo 25 and left Essex needing two runs from 10 balls and one wicket in the bag.

A simple task you'd think, but Essex do like to muddle up these situations. Number 11 Scott Brant took a single off his second ball to tie the scores and with 8 balls left and Napes on strike, surely a memorable win. Not to be.

Napes tried to win the match with one hit and Giles bowled his leg stump to leave the match in a brilliant tie, the first first-class tie since 1993!

Poor old Napier was out for 9 with Brant left unbeaten on 1 and Essex were 380 all out from 89.5 overs and had to settle for 7 tie points and 9 in total.

Ashley Giles took 5-115 for his side, to produce a fantastic last day.

So, what a day! Just shows you that you can produce such excellent results when you think about it and it gives both sides the chance to win and with this only the second match of the season, no excuse for events at Southgate last season. Great effort by the lads and such a shame we couldn't sneak it at the end, but they all tried hard and you can't ask nothing more. Can't blame Napier for perhaps not taking the more cautious approach, but that's cricket and a tie was probably a fair result given the hosts dominance of day 1.

Final word must go to Ronnie and Gilo for producing a brilliant last day. Fantastic lads and high enough praise can't be given. Both sacrified positions of taking what points they had to be bold and entertain the public by going for the win, every step of the way. Who says county cricket is dull?!

Ronnie Irani - Brilliant innings and setting up such a fantastic last day with Giles.

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Date: 26/4/03

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