Match Details
This is it from the live coverage of Lancashire vs Essex, as we conclude this game with the hosts winning it by 7 wickets and 26 balls to spare. That’s it for today from myself Nikhil Kalla alongside my co-commentator Vatsal and our scorer/analyst Yogesh. See you soon again tomorrow with more games to follow till then stay safe and stay tuned.
NIKHIL: So, we are done here with the hosts winning the game with relative ease as they were asked to chase down just 162.
Essex put on 161 for 5 in their 20 overs where Rossington and Critchley started off the innings well before getting out in quick succession. Pepper and Lawrence then played well through the middle and added 39 for the 3rd wicket partnership. In the later stages of the first innings, it was Walter and Sams who posted 49 runs being unbeaten in just 31 balls to take Essex to a competitive total. Lancashire bowlers were good throughout with Wood being the star of the show with 2-28 in his 4 over. Lamb, Hartley, and Wells picked a wicket each too.
In reply to the target set by the visitors, the hosts started in a sensational manner scoring 61 runs for the loss of 1 wicket in the powerplay even after losing Jennings who was unlucky to get out on a diamond duck. Croft started with all guns blazing and scored a half-century at a blistering pace as his innings set the tone for the run-chase with 76 not-out. He was helped well with Salt as even he made a quick-fire 27 runs. Vilas came in and looked set from the moment he faced his first delivery and he also ended up with a good half-century to show before falling short to Harmer.
For the visitors, there wasn’t much to cheer about in the bowling department as Critchley took the wicket of Salt, Harmer got rid of Vilas, and Cook got rid of Jennings with a lucky runout in the game.
Chasing down 162 was never a big ask for a side like Lancashire which has a strong batting line-up. The target was chased well and early in the 16th over itself as the Lancashire team walks past Essex with ease in the 3rd Quarter-Final in Manchester.