http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Essex-c783 - Friends Life T20 - South Group - Essex win by 6 runs – Live Score and Update
Essex 155/6 (20/20 ov) v Middlesex 149/9 (20.0/20 ov) - Essex won by 6 runs
Thursday was a fantastic day for Essex as everything they touched turned to gold, winning the toss and then going on to win their Friends Life T20 match against Middlesex was just what they needed this week.
Winning the toss, Essex chose to bat first and gave a decent performance by bolstering a total of 155 runs for the loss of six wickets in the T20 match played at Lord's, London.
It was then Middlesex’s turn to bat in the centre and in order to win the match all they needed o do was retain wickets and maintain a steady flow of runs, however, this was easier said than done.
With only two runs on the board, they lost their first wicket with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/JL-Denly-c1703 perishing after scoring only a run.
Then with 19 runs on the board, they lost their second wicket on the demise of CJL Rogers, who was caught by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Smith-c90598 off the bowling of TJ Phillips, after bolstering an innings of just three runs off eight deliveries.
Middle-order batsman, DJ Malan, then failed to give a show as he lost his wicket after scoring only a run.
These were dire times for Middlesex and they needed their batsmen to hold their nerve and come out victorious from the situation, however, Essex bowlers had other plans, and were in no mood to ease the pressure on their opponents.
With the departure of skipper, NJ Dexter on five runs, the side lost its fifth wicket with just 36 runs on the scoreboard. The match had almost slipped out of their hands, but GK Berg and wicketkeeper/batsman, JA Simpson kept the hopes of their team up for a while as they jabbed a couple of impressive shots.
While Berg rallied an innings of 39 runs, Simpson was not as lucky as he departed after scoring just 12 runs.
Later, OP Rayner played an unbeaten knock of 39 runs as he desperately tried to take his team across the finish line, but failed as Middlesex crumbled on a tally of 149 in 20 overs for the loss of nine wickets.
GR Napier from Essex was named as the Player of the Match.
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