Middlesex (H)

[dazedpenguin]

Cook and Rossington back in a squad of 16. Lawrence is also in the squad. With Pope injured this may be the last time we'll see him for a while.

Harmer, Allison, Beard, Buttleman, Cook, Critchley, Das, Khushi, Lawrence. Nijjar, Pepper, Rossington, Sams, Snater, Walter, Westley

Kent have Sussex and Somerset to come, Hampshire have Glamorgan and Gloucestershire, Essex have Surrey away after Middlesex. Qualification is looking difficult.

[nat]

We'll beat Middx no problem. IIRC we have a good record at the Oval so no probs there either. Lawrence surely won't play against Slurry?!

[Oldhasbeen]

We'll beat Middx no problem. IIRC we have a good record at the Oval so no probs there either. Lawrence surely won't play against Slurry?!

Colin Ackermann played for Leicestershire against Durham and scored a ton a few days ago!

[essexspur]

We'll beat Middx no problem. IIRC we have a good record at the Oval so no probs there either. Lawrence surely won't play against Slurry?!

Why not?

[nat]

Good to see my man Adam Rossington back in the team.

[dazedpenguin]

Good to see my man Adam Rossington back in the team.

I thought Buttleman did well and it's a shame he and Das drop out- I'd rather it was Khushi.

Essex lost the toss and will bat first. Buttleman, Allison and Das are left out.

Khushi, Rossington, Pepper, Lawrence, Walter, Critchley, Sams, Harmer, Snater, Beard, Cook

[dazedpenguin]

225/6. Very impressive from Sams and a fine innings from Walter. Rain is supposed to be on the way and that's a tough (but gettable) chase for Middlesex. Kent chasing 229 against Sussex.

[dazedpenguin]

Oh for goodness sake. Essex heading for defeat here. Higgins taking the attack apart.

[spirali]

Excellent bit of bowling from Sams to get rid of Simpson. Middlesex still favourites though.

[dazedpenguin]

Great bowling from Critchley, but just not quite enough in the end. Sams and Beard also did well, but disappointing from the rest of the attack. Qualification is still possible with Kent looking like losing and Hampshire probably being rained off.

[Edited to add: Hampshire are going to beat Glamorgan, but Sussex beat Kent.]. If Somerset beat Kent and Essex beat Surrey then Essex will qualify.

[essexspur]

So we beat Surrey and Kent lose to Somerset

[SirChef26]

Hopefully we win the toss for a change, bowl first and Surrey hit us for 300. I don't want to see this lot embarrass the standard and reputation of the Blast by calling themselves quarter-finalists.

[essexspur]

Hopefully we win the toss for a change, bowl first and Surrey hit us for 300. I don't want to see this lot embarrass the standard and reputation of the Blast by calling themselves quarter-finalists.

How sad you feel like that about your team

[Perov]

I'd rather risk embarrassment,  beat Surrey, ( see Kent lose)  and get to finals day. You never know what could happen, Harmer might even win the toss.Unlike some so called supporters,  I want Essex to win every game,
 

[Niel01]

Our players are mostly not suited to one day cricket and have over performed in winning seven games. I have watched 4 games at Chelmsford - Hampshire, Somerset, Kent and Middlesex - lost the lot and weren’t even competitive or even at the races in the first three. Shame last night that our early batsmen could not show the same altitude as the Middlesex numbers 9 and 10. Championship principal bowlers Harmer and Cook usually far less effective and comparatively expensive, I.e. Harmer costing 45 runs in 2 overs last night.