Cricket Update: Friends Provident T20- 8-wicket win over Lancashire took Essex to the semi-final
A stunning second wicket stand between Matthew Walker and Mark Pettini worth 147 from just 92 balls effectively batted Lancashire out of the Friends Provident T20 at Chelmsford on 27th July. A sell out crowd of almost 6,500 witnessed the final-over nail-biting eight wicket victory of Essex over Lancashire.
Chasing Lancashire’s competitive 20-over total of 183 for six, Essex lost its crucial wicket of the English star Ravinder Bopara in the third over of the run chase. However, Essex rode on whirlwind 147 runs second wicket partnership between Pettini and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Walker-c95903 to the semi-final stage of the 2010 Friends Provident T20 Cup.
On an overcast day, the Essex skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lancashire-c806 batsmen scored at a strike rate below 100. Paul Horton remained the leading run-scorer from the losing side with 44 off 30 balls.
Despite losing opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Steven-Croft-c2583 kept on playing the Essex bowlers confidently smashing boundaries at regular intervals. Lancashire was 33 for 1, after four overs when the rain stopped the match. The game was resumed after a break of 30 minutes and Lancashire maintained its composure well despite losing bludgeoning Croft the next over. Croft lost his wicket slashing Chris Wright to Tim Phillips. He scored 27 runs from just 18 deliveries. The 22-ball stay at the crease entertained the jam-packed Chelmsford stadium with three boundaries and one six.
Croft’s dismissal brought http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Grant-c60671 Flower at deep midwicket. 32-ball innings earned Smith 35 runs including four boundaries as well.
Another partnership of about 50 runs was recorded by Paul Horton and Sajid Mahmood before fluent Horton was trapped lbw by Chris Wright. Both the players hammered the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 attack with sweetly-timed boundaries and sixes across the ground. Both Horton and Mahmood added 49 runs to the scorecard from 4.5 overs.
With Essex 142 on the board, Horton was trapped lbw by Wright. During 44 minutes stay at the crease, he played decent cricket strokes to pile up 44 off just 30 deliveries containing three boundaries and a six as well. The next man to leave was bludgeoning http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sajid-Mahmood-c88005, who played a 17-ball innings at a strike rate of 200. Mahmood was bowled off a vicious Yorker from Chris Wright. His whirlwind 34 off 17 deliveries contained three boundaries and two sixes.
However, the two quick wickets of Horton and Mahmood stemmed the flow of runs temporarily, but the pugnacious 28 off 14 took the side to an impressive 183 for six at the end of allotted 20 overs. Chris Wright was the most successful bowler with 4-25.
Essex’s run chase got off to an early shake with the star English all-rounder Ravinder Bopara losing his wicket to Chapple in the third over with only 4 runs in his account. However, 147-run second wicked stand between Pettini and Walker compensated the early loss very well putting the side on the driver’s seat. Pettini lost his wicket to Sajid Mahmood in the 18th over with 20 still required. He scored 81 off 56 deliveries containing seven boundaries and a six. Walker scored unbeaten 74 of 49 balls taking Essex home in 19.1 overs with eight wickets intact. Matthew Walker and Mark Pettini for their 147-run partnership shared the man-of-the-match award.
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