By Olympics
March 24 2013

We have a report on the 2nd pre-season friendly defeat. Another chilly day, but some inside information on some progress and a good of the day

I don’t often recall setting out for cricket clad in overcoat, gloves, scarf and hat,  but that was necessary attire for both days of our friendly at Chelmsford.  Arriving at the County Ground in good time for a 10.30 start, we were greeted with the news that it was going to be a twelve-a-side,  35 over match, with us fielding the same team as the day before. To noboby’s surprise, we lost the toss and our hosts elected to bat.

This was my first visit to Essex’s home ground, and it pretty much lived up to expectations. Small and tidy with a warm clubhouse, from which the vast majority of the ‘crowd’ watched the game.

With the side-on view from the clubhouse, it was hard to discern any lateral movement, but our opening bowlers Roland-Jones and Harris kept scoring to a premium with some accurate deliveries, before Harris clean bowled Mickelburgh for nought with the score on 10. Westley and Pettini then dug out a partnership of 62, with quite a large percentage of their runs edged through the slip cordon for boundaries. Unfortunately, a few chances went down in that area, although it was understandable given the coldness of the day.

After Wilkin trapped Westley lbw for 43, James Foster came to the crease and provided the best entertainment of the day. The Essex skipper blasted a quickfire 46 runs including 3 sixes, one of which was launched back over the head of a bemused Ollie Rayner. Rayner eventually got him out lbw just before the end of the innings, and Essex closed on 146-3, with Pettini unbeaten on 53.

Lunch involved my companion (a die-hard Chelmsford City fan) showing me the former site of City’s ground, now a Virgin Active gym. We then retired to the excellent Queen’s Head and I’m afraid our reminiscences of the glory days of City and in particular, their great record in Ruislip (9-0 v Ruislip and 4-1 v Ruislip Manor), meant that Middlesex were already 4 down on our return !

Going by the evidence of the previous day and half’s play, it was clear that we were going to struggle getting anywhere near the 147 target. The useful-looking Mills had accounted for openers Robson and London cheaply, and Mahmood and Napier removed Rossington and Dexter respectively.

The clubhouse had filled up quite a bit more on our return and I subsequently had an obscured view. However, I was still able to see Simpson being niftily run out by Mahmood for 8, leaving Berg and Davey to score at 10 plus an over for victory. We lost no more wickets, as we opted for batting practice in the last doxen or so overs. Davey ended up with a gritty 33, including 5 boundaries, and the Iceman made 17, for a partnership of 41, with us closing on 94-5.

So, a comprehensive 52 run win for Essex. The plus points for us were the bowling of Harris and Roland-Jones, and the batting of Davey, who I believe has now been dubbed the Scottish Sobers. Well done to all 24 players for getting through 70 overs in conditions that were in no way conducive to cricket.