Essex defeated Warwickshire by four wickets after recovering
from a 235-run deficit in the first innings (Cox 77*, Critchley 46*). The hosts
still need 106 runs to win. 397 and 94 (Yates 28, Critchley 4-24, Harmer 3–28)
Jordan Cox led Essex to one of the most unexpected successful run chases with a
swashbuckling century as Warwickshire were defeated by four wickets at
Chelmsford.
Cox, who scored 112 off 192 balls, and Matt Critchley combined for a record
fifth-wicket partnership of 176 in 54 overs against Warwickshire, bringing
Esses within sight of their 330-run total. Critchley, on the other hand, was
left stranded on 99 not out from 184 balls when Simon Harmer hit the winning
boundary off Che Simmons 15 minutes before the planned lunch break on Day 4.
Essex's third win of the season left them close behind
Surrey at the summit of the Vitality County Championship. Warwickshire were
left to ponder what could have been.
During the first three days, the battle bounced back and forth, with both teams
in control at points. Warwickshire recovered from 104 for 6 to take a 235-run
lead in the first innings but declined to impose the follow-on. When they were
discharged for the 94th time, the decision came under scrutiny. Essex now needs
330 to win in more than five sessions.
Critchley scored his third half-century of the season with a clever drive that
evaded a diving extra cover and raced away for his sixth boundary. Cox also
kept the scoreboard ticking during the pre-new-ball overs, pulling Rob Yates
for four.
Essex got 21 runs from six overs before the new ball was used, but they still
needed 85 runs to win. Critchley was unfazed, hitting a full-toss right back
past Michael Rae for another boundary before hooking the same bowler to push
the partnership to 150 from 50 overs.
Cox completed his second century for Essex with his 14th four, clipping through
midwicket, before lofting Yates over long-on for six. But he didn't stay long,
sending Che Simmons' opening ball off his legs to Jacob Bethell on the deep
square-leg boundary to quit after 192 deliveries. It revived the intensity lacking in Warwickshire's play over the opening 75 minutes.
Rae was suddenly digging the ball in short, while Michael
Pepper was evading a couple of deliveries. Pepper then decided to progress down
the wicket and stepped toward the leg, but was out-thought by the bowler, so he
played on.
Simon Harmer reached 300 by hooking the New Zealander for four, and Critchley
top-edged Rae for six over the fine leg before driving through the covers for four,
bringing Essex within a dozen of the mark.
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