15/07Result
1st Semi Final, Vitality Blast at Birmingham, Jul 15 2023
Essex won by 5 wkts (3b rem) (DLS)
Player of the Match
Matt Critchley
Matt CritchleyEssex
15/07Result
1st Semi Final, Vitality Blast at Birmingham, Jul 15 2023
Essex won by 5 wkts (3b rem) (DLS)
Player of the Match
Matt Critchley
Matt CritchleyEssex

END OF OVER:
20 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | HANTS: 170/6 | RR: 8.50

  • Joe Weatherley63 (39b)
  • Daniel Sams4-0-49-1
  • Sam Cook3-0-30-1

12.22pm: It was a stop-start innings from Hampshire, held together by Joe Weatherley's 63 from 39. The openers went off at a lick, crashing 39 from the first four overs, but they struggled to string partnerships together until Weatherley and Benny Howell (22 off 11) boshed a quick 40 at the end. Is that enough to hold of Essex and secure the champions a spot in the final? We'll find out shortly. The dark clouds are building up over Birmingham, and the hover cover has been parked out in the middle... but there's still bright sunshine over Edgbaston for now

19.6
W
Sams to Howell, OUT, into the pitch, Howell holes out to deep midwicket! Snater is the man out on the rope in front of the Hollies again, and he holds this one safely. Sams finishes with a wicket but Hampshire have got themselves something to bowl at

BAC Howell c Snater b Sams 22 (14m 11b 1x4 1x6) SR: 200.00

19.5
6
Sams to Howell, SIX, honked high and handsome! Howell sets himself and launches six over long-on! Came off the middle of the bat with a crack
19.4
2
Sams to Howell, 2 runs, slower ball, swung leg side... dropped at deep midwicket! A much easier chance for Snater, he gets both hands in position but shells the catch
19.3
1
Sams to Weatherley, 1 run, sliced high into the off side... Beard can't quite hold on! Top effort running in from deep point, but the ball squirms free
19.2
1
Sams to Howell, 1 run, pitched up, dug out down the ground to long-on
19.1
4
Sams to Howell, FOUR, full and wide, slapped into the gap! Opens up his stance and gets it away behind deep backward point

Sams to finish off

END OF OVER:
19 | 14 Runs | HANTS: 156/6 | RR: 8.21

  • Joe Weatherley62 (38b)
  • Benny Howell9 (6b)
  • Sam Cook3-0-30-1
  • Daniel Sams3-0-35-0
18.6
6
Cook to Weatherley, SIX, slog-swept all the way! Weatherley is right back on his stumps and across outside off to swat Cook's slower ball over the rope at deep backward square leg
18.5
1
Cook to Howell, 1 run, pitched up and dug out for a single through mid-on. That's the Hampshire 150
18.4
2
Cook to Howell, 2 runs, short ball, pace on and Howell takes on the pull, in the air but it doesn't quite carry to Snater running in from long-on
18.3
1
Cook to Weatherley, 1 run,
18.2
3
Cook to Howell, 3 runs, slower ball, sliced up and over backward point... brilliantly stopped by the diving Sams running around the rope
18.1
1
Cook to Weatherley, 1 run, dug out down the ground for one

Sam Cook to bowl the penultimate over

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs | HANTS: 142/6 | RR: 7.88

  • Joe Weatherley54 (35b)
  • Benny Howell3 (3b)
  • Daniel Sams3-0-35-0
  • Paul Walter1-0-7-1

"Is there a contingency plan if there are thunderstorms heading in? Do they get to play tomorrow?" Yes, John, there is a reserve day for such eventualities

17.6
1
Sams to Weatherley, 1 run, short and swatted down the ground to long-on
17.6
1w
Sams to Weatherley, 1 wide,
17.5
4
Sams to Weatherley, FOUR, wide full toss, Weatherley chops down and squeezes it away to deep backward point! Nicely played, picks up four more. That's his half-century, been a vital knock from the Hampshire No. 4
17.4
1
Sams to Howell, 1 run,
17.3
2
Sams to Howell, 2 runs, another slower ball, clubbed aerially past the man in the covers, deep point comes around to cut it off
17.2
1
Sams to Weatherley, 1 run, pace off into the pitch wide of off stump, Weatherley has to fetch his pull out towards the Hollies
17.1
2
Sams to Weatherley, 2 runs, full, straight and driven, they'll get two as Harmer comes across at long-off

Sams back from the Pavilion End. Round the wicket to Weatherley

END OF OVER:
17 | 7 Runs 1 Wkt | HANTS: 130/6 | RR: 7.64

  • Benny Howell0 (1b)
  • Joe Weatherley46 (31b)
  • Paul Walter1-0-7-1
  • Simon Harmer4-0-33-1

Sowmya: "Time to launch !!! Essex would be happy to concede 10RPO from hereon!!!" That would mean chasing 160ish, which is pretty much the par score batting first at Edgbaston

16.6
0
Walter to Howell, no run,

In comes Benny Howell at No. 8

16.5
W
Walter to Whiteley, OUT, miscued high in the air to backward point! Whiteley's stay is short and uneventful as he looks to make room and muscle the ball back down the ground, only succeeds in getting a big top edge that Cook settles under on the edge of the fielding circle

RA Whiteley c Cook b Walter 2 (9m 7b 0x4 0x6) SR: 28.57

16.4
1
Walter to Weatherley, 1 run,
16.3
4
Walter to Weatherley, FOUR, another boundary for Weatherley, who is holding this Hampshire innings together. Steps down and lashes a firm drive, in the air but wide of mid-off and away

Essex 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st2AM RossingtonDW Lawrence
2nd45DW LawrenceMS Pepper
3rd1DW LawrencePI Walter
4th2MJJ CritchleyPI Walter
5th45MJJ CritchleyDR Sams
6th20SR HarmerMJJ Critchley