Paul Hiscock
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Vodafone Challenge: Essex v Australians at Chelmsford, 29 Jun - 1 Jul 2001 Paul Hiscock |
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Australians 2nd innings:
Essex 1st innings: |
The left-hander had played chancelessly with imposing dominance and was within two runs of a merited century when he was caught at cover as he drove a ball from off-spinner Peter Such as he attempted to complete his seventeenth boundary.
His opening partner Michael Slater was also in the runs, scoring 58 during an opening partnership of 138 in 23 overs. His innings was cut short by 19-year-old pacemen Andrew McGarry when the Aussie top-edged an intended pull and was caught at mid-on. Justin Langer also used the opportunity for valuable practice in the middle, spending 64 minutes whilst scoring 10 not out as Australia reached the close on 188-2 to take a lead of 362 runs into the final day.
The Essex innings had earlier been held together by two of their promising youngsters, James Foster and Graham Napier who shared in a sixth-wicket stand of 104 in 21 overs and refused to be intimidated by the tourists formidable pace attack.
Foster, widely tipped as an England 'keeper of the future struck 74, his highest score for the county, that included 11 boundaries before he was last out to provide Brett Lee with his only success of the innings.
The hard-hitting Napier struck a belligerent 59 with two sixes and 10 fours before becoming a victim of Jason Gillespie who capped an impressive performance of hostility and accuracy. He was rewarded with figures of 5-37 as the home side were bowled out for 231 with Nasser Hussain the first of Gillespie's victims when he was caught at short-leg having added just nine runs to his overnight seven.
The 21-year-old showed his prowess as he struck a superb 74 with 11 boundaries in a confident display against the pick of the Australians pace attack. He adopted an assured and aggressive approach against pace and spin alike as he completed a career-best for the county as he faced a total of 115 deliveries.
Graham Napier, another youngster from whom Essex hold high hopes, also showed that he was not intimidated by the Aussies attack striking a belligerent 59 from 63 balls containing 52 in boundaries - 10 fours and two sixes – as he combined with Foster in a sixth wicket partnership worth 104 in 21 overs.
Their entertaining partnership was brought to an end when Napier was caught a long leg attacking Jason Gillespie, easily the pick of the tourists attack.
The tall paceman picked up 5-37 from 16 overs as the home side were dismissed for 231 to leave Australia with a first innings lead of 174 runs.
Opting not to enforce the follow-on, they extended their advantage by 53 runs by tea as Matthew Hayden and Michael Slater struck 12 boundaries in the 8 overs bowled.
It had taken the county side 32 deliveries to get the scoreboard moving and Hussain batted for another 35 minutes adding nine more runs to his overnight seven before Gillespie struck. In his next over, the fast bowler struck again trapping Richard Clinton with a delivery that kept low to leave the home side on 33-3 and Gillespie with figures of 2-20.
Ronnie Irani joined Darren Robinson in a 41-run partnership to ease their side from their parlous position and it took a change of attack before the Australians struck again thanks to off-spinner Craig Miller.
The Essex captain pushed forward and was caught at silly point, then in then next over, Robinson who had begun to play with more composure was lured down the track and stumped.
However, youngsters James Foster and Graham Napier showed resolve; with the latter prospering through a belligerent attack and at lunch – having faced only 31 deliveries - was unbeaten with 36, all in boundaries which included two sixes off Matthew Hayden.
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Date-stamped : 01 Jul2001 - 02:25