COLCHESTER (Nottinghamshire won toss): Nottinghamshire Outlaws (2pts) beat Essex Eagles by 17 runs
ESSEX, who were defeated just once last year on their way to becoming the totesport League champions, suffered their first Pro40 reverse this season after conceding too many runs on a turning pitch.
Although Andy Bichel returned the best figures in the league this season, five for 44, they sorely missed Darren Gough, who was absent with tissue swelling in his left calf that may put his participation in the England one-day side for the upcoming series against Pakistan in doubt. Essex also paid a high price for again omitting one of the Flower brothers, this time Grant.
It still required a destructive innings of 81 in 54 balls from David Hussey to propel the Outlaws to a total that proved out of reach. Driving with devastating effect down the ground and through extra cover, the Australian hit five sixes, only being kept in check by Tim Phillips.
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Essex were left to wonder what another left-arm spinner in Grant Flower might have achieved. Mervyn Westfield, who was selected ahead of him, disappeared for 33 off his four overs.
Thanks to Hussey’s seventh-wicket stand of 60 in four overs with Mark Ealham, as many as 90 runs were plundered off the last ten overs. Useful runs at the top of the order came from Will Smith, who chiselled out 64 from 83 balls, and Graeme Swann, who smashed 34 off 30. Stephen Fleming also scored quickly before falling to a magnificent catch by Mark Pettini at deep mid-wicket.
It was Fleming who ran out Andy Flower with a direct hit to end Essex’s hopes of an unlikely win. The Zimbabwean, who crafted fifty off 51 balls, had put on 82 in ten overs with James Foster after Essex had slumped to 97 for five.
Some excellent new-ball bowling from Ryan Sidebottom, who had Ronnie Irani caught at first slip, helped to restrict Essex to 66 from their first 15 overs. Andrew Harris also played his part by persuading both Pettini and Bichel to play on. Later, Samit Patel’s left-arm spin was effective at the death.