County Championship: Essex Lower Order Rallies v Northants
County Championship: Essex Lower Order Rallies v Northants
LV = County Championship Division One, County Ground, Northampton (Day One) Essex 220-8: Westley 55*; Taylor 3-39Northamptonshire: Still to beat >Match scorecard
But despite the wickets falling in clumps, a 55 pitch captain shot of Tom Westley helped keep Essex in the contest in a ninth wicket from 68 in 20 overs with Ben Allison (37).
Earlier Ben Sanderson struck twice in two balls to stop a lightning start to the day in Essex which saw Nick Browne and Sir Alastair Cook plunder 68 carries from the first 13 overs.
But when Cook fell for 31 it precipitated the first mini slump of the day as four wickets fell in 45 balls, including two at Sanderson and Essex went lunch on 107-4 before rain prevented any play in the afternoon session.
Lo hen play resumed after tea, Westley and Feroze Khushi looked fluid as they built back up to a stand of 47 before Essex collapsed again, losing four wickets for nine runs on 32 balls. Tom Taylor picked up three wickets amid the carnage before Westley and Allison made sure the honors were even at the end of the game.
Cook found the ropes three times in Jack White's fifth over, playing punches and back foot cuts. Meanwhile, Browne also hit a trio of limits on Taylor's first hit, gently driving through the covers.
Both hitters had their share of luck, however, when Emilio Gay bombarded two second-slip chances, denying Gareth Berg a pair of wickets. First Gay missed a direct chance offered by Browne before missing a more difficult one to his left as Cook swerved away from the cord.
LV = County Championship Division One, County Ground, Northampton (Day One) Essex 220-8: Westley 55*; Taylor 3-39Northamptonshire: Still to beat >Match scorecard
But despite the wickets falling in clumps, a 55 pitch captain shot of Tom Westley helped keep Essex in the contest in a ninth wicket from 68 in 20 overs with Ben Allison (37).
Earlier Ben Sanderson struck twice in two balls to stop a lightning start to the day in Essex which saw Nick Browne and Sir Alastair Cook plunder 68 carries from the first 13 overs.
But when Cook fell for 31 it precipitated the first mini slump of the day as four wickets fell in 45 balls, including two at Sanderson and Essex went lunch on 107-4 before rain prevented any play in the afternoon session.
Lo hen play resumed after tea, Westley and Feroze Khushi looked fluid as they built back up to a stand of 47 before Essex collapsed again, losing four wickets for nine runs on 32 balls. Tom Taylor picked up three wickets amid the carnage before Westley and Allison made sure the honors were even at the end of the game.
Cook found the ropes three times in Jack White's fifth over, playing punches and back foot cuts. Meanwhile, Browne also hit a trio of limits on Taylor's first hit, gently driving through the covers.
Both hitters had their share of luck, however, when Emilio Gay bombarded two second-slip chances, denying Gareth Berg a pair of wickets. First Gay missed a direct chance offered by Browne before missing a more difficult one to his left as Cook swerved away from the cord.
