By Dave Buxton
March 31 2003

A third match and a third defeat on tour, as Essex this time slipped to a 19 run loss against the full Western Province team at Newlands on Sunday. James Middlebrook took 2-30 and top scored with 30, but again, no substantial innings saw the county lose another tight match.

Midders In Form Again, But Essex Lose To Western Province

After playing the 'B' and Academy teams, it was the turn of the full WP side to take on Essex, in the first of the triangular matches, a mini tournament also involving Lancashire. They themselves fielded a strong team, with new national captain Graeme Smith and fast bowler Roger Telemachus to name just two South African players involved. They are also bang in form after winning the Standard Bank one-day competition, so it was to be a tough day for the Essex men.

A much stronger XI was fielded, with James Foster, Jon Dakin, James Middlebrook, Graham Napier and Andy Clarke returning and overseas star Andy Flower joining up with the team for his first tour outing.

Larry again lost the toss and the home team opted to bat again and on a good track, a total of 250+ was on with Smith (67) taking the attack to Essex.

But, the introduction of Midders and Grayson himself tied things down and kept WP down to just 228-7 from their 45 overs. This total was only boosted by a late flurry from the tail-enders, so the county did very well to kept the score down to a getable one.

Grayson got the key wicket of Smith, stumped by Fossy and returned figures of 8 overs 1-31, while Midders was fantastic and finished with 9 overs, 2 maidens, 2-30.

Jon Dakin (1-41), Graham Napier (1-37) and Andy Clarke (1-48) were the other men to take wickets, although were a tad on the expensive side, while Adrian McCoubrey still waits for his first Essex wicket, going at over 6-an-over off the 6 he bowled.

Essex needed a good start, but again lost three early wickets. Will Jefferson made 12, Darren Robinson just 5 and Andy Flower only 4 and from then on the task was always going to be tough.

Grayson made double figures for the first time on tour, with 21, but his wicket was not the end of proceedings.

Essex bat a long way down these days and Habib (29) and Foster (27) lead the first of a couple of good partnerships to lead the fightback.

After they went, Jon Dakin with 29, Middlebrook with 30 and Graham Napier (25) hit some lusty blows to give Essex a chance, but they all fell in the search of quick runs to win the match and with three balls to go, Essex were bowled out for 209 to lose by a slim margin, again, of 19 runs.

So, a third defeat in-a-row, but the positives are we are playing against some quality opposition and taking the SA 1-day Champions close shows how far the team have come under Goochie. Not just that, but all three defeats have been by close margins, which could have gone either way and the side is missing Ronnie Irani, Nasser Hussain and Scott Brant, so not too much can be taken into how the side will perform once back in England.

One thing that is impressing me, is the form of James Middlebrook. Not only is his off-spin bowling looking more impressive, but his batting has meant he's turned into more of an all-rounder, rather than a bowler who can bat a bit.

The next match is today and the chance of a win, as we play Lancashire, at Belville. The red rose county are the third side in this mini one-day triangular tournament and a win here, would mean Essex should qualify for the final, which is on Wednesday at Newlands. A defeat and the tour is over. Let's hope for a win.

WESTERN PROVINCE INNS: 228-7 (45 Ovs) -

Dakin	.........	6-1-41-1
Napier	.........	8-1-37-1
Clarke	.........	8-0-48-1
McCoubrey	.........	6-0-37-0
Middlebrook	.........	9-2-30-2
Grayson	.........	8-0-31-1

ESSEX INNS: 209 All Out (44.3 Ovs) -

W.I. Jefferson	.........	12
D.D.J. Robinson	.........	5
A. Flower	.........	4
A. Habib	.........	29
* A.P. Grayson	.........	21
+ J.S. Foster	.........	27
J.M. Dakin	.........	29
J.D. Middlebrook	.........	30
G.R. Napier	.........	25
A.J. Clarke	.........	0
A.G.A.M. McCoubrey	.........	5 Not Out

RESULT: ESSEX LOST BY 19 RUNS

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Date: 31/3/03

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