Win Projections to be updated soon
Michael Pepper‘s incredible 120-run stand that he made against just 53 balls and nine sixes and nine fours inspired Essex. Charlie Allison, however, who scored an undefeated 44 from 26 with a six and four fours, provided him with strong assistance. A sell-out audience was taken aback by the duo’s 121-run partnership in nine overs.
With three games remaining to secure a home quarter-final position in the Vitality Blast, Essex made a fantastic start to the season by defeating the Sussex Sharks by five wickets with nine balls remaining.
Sussex had amassed a formidable 207 points for 2. And when it was their turn to bat, Essex, who had elected to bowl first, were quickly knocked back. With the very first ball of the innings, Ollie Robinson made his breakthrough when he captured the dangerous Adam Rossington at deep square-leg. And as soon as Tymal Mills entered the field for the fourth over, he dismissed Dean Elgar for eleven, bringing the score to 30 for 2.
After that, Robinson was moved to the Cromwell Road End, and in his opening two deliveries, he removed two players, Paul Walter being caught at extra-cover by a leading edge and Robin Das being trapped behind. By the tenth over, Essex looked to be out of it at 90 for 5. However, Pepper was well into his innings and had managed to push his amazing strike rate to 200 for the league this season after attacking spinner James Coles to start his innings. This was his second hundred and he has scored 488 runs at an average of 48.
In order to secure a position in the home quarterfinals, Sussex had to win two of their three games. Additionally, their innings was built around a dominant partnership for the second time in two days. It was John Simpson and Tom Alsop, who scored 139 against Kent on Friday. In just 11 overs, Daniel Hughes and Tom Clark put up 110 for the second wicket against Essex.
Thanks to Hughes and Harrison Ward, who combined for 34 runs in only 3.2 overs before Ward was caught at mid-off, Sussex had once again gotten off to a quick start. However, Hughes in particular helped Sussex to yet another huge score, hitting an innings of 81 off 43 balls, including eight fours and five sixes, at a strike rate of 188 to bring his total for the season at 435 runs.
Hughes reached his fifty off just 26 balls after hitting Shane Snater over long leg twice in one over for six. Sussex was 94 for 1 at the midway point when Hughes struck leg-spinner Matt Critchley for a huge six over mid-on to take the score to 100.
Also Read: Baartman is unable to join Hampshire for Blast because to visa concerns
Clark, on the other hand, struggled with timing early on when the pitch was a little slow. However, he picked up the pace after hitting Walter for six over fine leg, going on to score an undefeated 72 off 53 balls, including eight fours and two sixes. The prolific Alsop struck a brilliant 27 not out off 14 balls, including a stunning six from Snater over midwicket. Still, it would fall short.
India
