Essex v Lancashire - First innings.

Essex will need 184 runs if they are to gain a place in twenty20 Finals day for the third time.

 

They got off to a wonderful start when David Masters trapped Stephen Moore in front of his stumps with the first ball of the innings and the opening bowler conceded just one run from the first over.

 

However the Lightning took 11 runs from Andy Carter’s first over and when Masters conceded another 7 from his next six deliveries, the visitors were on the road to recovery.

 

And the innings showed signs of well-being when Maurice Chambers joined the attack but conceded 14 runs including a four and six off successive deliveries by Steven Croft to leave Lancashire 33-1 from 4 overs before rain curtailed proceedings for 35 minutes.

 

Seven runs were added when play resumed before Chris Wright struck in his first  over of the match when he had Croft picked up at deep mid wicket by Tim Phillips for 27 out of 42-2.

 

The visitors then enjoyed a period in the ascendancy when Tom Smith and Paul Horton raced to a 51 runs partnership in less than 6 overs that was concluded by a magnificent diving catch by Grant Flower at deep mid-wicket off the bowling of Phillips to send Smith back to the dug-out having scored 35 out of 93-3.

 

The hundred was posted in the thirteenth over during which 15 runs were gathered from Chambers but Phillips bowled s fine over yielding six singles to contain Horton and Sajid Mahmood who had been promoted up the order.

 

Five singles were taken from the next five deliveries before Mahmood struck Masters for a huge six over long-off and with three boundaries coming from Carter’s next over, the Lightning were in a commanding situation at 142-3 with four overs remaining.

 

The Eagles though responded positively thanks in chief to Wright who removed Horton leg before for 44 and three balls later, sent down another yorker to bowl the dangerous Mahmood who had made 34 from 17 balls.

 

However, Lancashire regained their grip adding 16 from a Chambers over before Wright took another wicket in his final over when Gareth Cross skied to Matt Walker at cover to finish with figures of 4-25.

 

With a dozen runs taken from the twentieth and final over, Lancashire closed on 183-6 to set the Eagles a challenging target to clinch a place in Finals day at The Rose Bowl.