Essex promotion hopes dealt a blow with defeat

10:09am Sunday 24th August 2008

WORCESTERSHIRE beat Essex by six-wickets at Castle Park, Colchester to extend their lead at the top of the Second Division in the County Championship to 29 points.

The win came after opening batsman Daryl Mitchell struck his first century of the season to deal Essex own hopes of promotion a major setback.

The hosts had declared overnight on 322-8 leaving James Foster 111 not out and setting their opponents 347 for victory but Worcestershire’s perfectly-paced approach saw them comfortably home with more than 6 overs to spare.

Without leg-spinner Danish Kaneria, the Essex attack carried little cutting edge although off-spinner James Middlebrook did collect two wickets in two deliveries to briefly check the visitors progress. Mitchell and Stephen Moore had put on 102 for the opening wicket when Middlebrook had Moore caught by Varun Chopra at short leg for 50 with the final ball before lunch and then, with the first delivery after the interval, the same combination accounted for Vikram Solanki with the Worcestershire skipper departing for a first ball duck to complete a ”pair” having only faced two deliveries in his first knock.

But it proved to be a false dawn of hope for the home side as Mitchell and Ben Smith continued the side’s firm grip on proceedings with a third wicket stand worth 126 as the pair dominated the attack with Smith playing freely in contrast to Mitchell’s more dour but effective approach.

Smith was finally caught for 82 from 123 deliveries, that contained 10 fours, when he pulled left-arm spinner Grant Flower to backward square-leg, where Chris Wright dived to take a fine catch.

With the visitors needing 119 to secure victory, the sight of the majestic Graeme Hick striding to the wicket was hardly an encouraging sign for the Essex bowlers and the veteran batsman showed his class with a superb unbeaten 78 from 84 balls.

Mitchell eventually succumbed after 286 minutes at the crease when he was caught at first slip by Jason Gallian off Ryan ten Doeschate for 102 but Steve Davies joined Hick to complete the formality of collecting the remaining 84 runs for victory with little fuss as Davies finished 31 not out.

Essex, who took just 5 points in contrast to Worcestershire’s 19 points, now travel to Grace Road to meet Leicestershire in their next County Championship fixture that commences on Wednesday.