Hampshire (H)

[dazedpenguin]

Squad: Harmer, Ben Allison, Charlie Allison, Beard, Benkenstein, Cox, Critchley, Das, Elgar, Pepper, Rossington, Sams, Snater, Walter

Hampshire have been as mixed as Essex this year, but they are still a dangerous side in this format.

[JasonP]

9 out of the last 10 Essex T20 matches at Chelmsford have been won by the team batting second  (Kent did win against Middlesex batting first)  Chelmsford seems such a hard ground to defend.  A lot of the games have a very similar pattern, the team batting second blitz the powerplay and pretty much have the game won by the end of it.  When we bat first we tend to get an under par score, it's very difficult to see what kind of total we can defend so toss likely crucial.

[SirChef26]

9 out of the last 10 Essex T20 matches at Chelmsford have been won by the team batting second  (Kent did win against Middlesex batting first)  Chelmsford seems such a hard ground to defend.  A lot of the games have a very similar pattern, the team batting second blitz the powerplay and pretty much have the game won by the end of it.  When we bat first we tend to get an under par score, it's very difficult to see what kind of total we can defend so toss likely crucial.

It's not just a Chelmsford problem, it's a T20 problem worldwide. Chasing is far easier than defending, mainly due all teams batting right down the order and making it easier to time a run chase. By contrast, it's getting harder to judge a par-score on any surface whereas the chasing side can form a plan early on.

[nat]

9 out of the last 10 Essex T20 matches at Chelmsford have been won by the team batting second  (Kent did win against Middlesex batting first)  Chelmsford seems such a hard ground to defend.  A lot of the games have a very similar pattern, the team batting second blitz the powerplay and pretty much have the game won by the end of it.  When we bat first we tend to get an under par score, it's very difficult to see what kind of total we can defend so toss likely crucial.

It's not just a Chelmsford problem, it's a T20 problem worldwide. Chasing is far easier than defending, mainly due all teams batting right down the order and making it easier to time a run chase. By contrast, it's getting harder to judge a par-score on any surface whereas the chasing side can form a plan early on.

And because they increasingly play on postage stamp sized grounds to pander to the insatiable appetite for 4s and 6s.

[essexspur]

9 out of the last 10 Essex T20 matches at Chelmsford have been won by the team batting second  (Kent did win against Middlesex batting first)  Chelmsford seems such a hard ground to defend.  A lot of the games have a very similar pattern, the team batting second blitz the powerplay and pretty much have the game won by the end of it.  When we bat first we tend to get an under par score, it's very difficult to see what kind of total we can defend so toss likely crucial.

It's not just a Chelmsford problem, it's a T20 problem worldwide. Chasing is far easier than defending, mainly due all teams batting right down the order and making it easier to time a run chase. By contrast, it's getting harder to judge a par-score on any surface whereas the chasing side can form a plan early on.

And because they increasingly play on postage stamp sized grounds to pander to the insatiable appetite for 4s and 6s.

Spot on. Spinners are being misfit for 6 and the quicker bowlers top edged for 6. I can?t see how that is entertaining but that?s where we?ve got to. T20 is so much in favour of the batsmen it?s getting ridiculous. Maybe the bowlers should bowl underarm or ?do a Trevor Chappell?!

[bobw]

9 out of the last 10 Essex T20 matches at Chelmsford have been won by the team batting second  (Kent did win against Middlesex batting first)  Chelmsford seems such a hard ground to defend.  A lot of the games have a very similar pattern, the team batting second blitz the powerplay and pretty much have the game won by the end of it.  When we bat first we tend to get an under par score, it's very difficult to see what kind of total we can defend so toss likely crucial.

It's not just a Chelmsford problem, it's a T20 problem worldwide. Chasing is far easier than defending, mainly due all teams batting right down the order and making it easier to time a run chase. By contrast, it's getting harder to judge a par-score on any surface whereas the chasing side can form a plan early on.

And because they increasingly play on postage stamp sized grounds to pander to the insatiable appetite for 4s and 6s.

Spot on. Spinners are being misfit for 6 and the quicker bowlers top edged for 6. I can?t see how that is entertaining but that?s where we?ve got to. T20 is so much in favour of the batsmen it?s getting ridiculous. Maybe the bowlers should bowl underarm or ?do a Trevor Chappell?!

Just get rid of the bowlers and have the batters set a bowling machine to their liking.

[dazedpenguin]

Harmer and Charlie Allison in for Beard and Sams (it sounds like he was not fit last match?):

Rossington, Elgar, Pepper, Cox, Walter, Critchley, Charlie Allison, Harmer, Benkenstein, Snater, Ben Allison

Only 6 bowlers in that lineup.

[dazedpenguin]

Essex won the toss and put Hampshire in.

[spirali]

That was all going quite well until the last few overs. Vince out cheaply and Hampshire generally looking lacklustre. But 44 runs plundered from the last 3 overs (surely Allison should not have been bowling at the death). Should still be gettable but a tougher ask than looked likely for most of that innings.

[nat]

Anyone still think Elgar can't play 20-20 cricket? Come on now, roll up.

[spirali]

Terrific batting performance. If we can keep playing like that...

[dazedpenguin]

Anyone still think Elgar can't play 20-20 cricket? Come on now, roll up.

He seems to be getting the hang of it. Great innings.

Pepper was also a delight to watch.

An excellent team performance.

[SirChef26]

Won that 30 minutes before the start of play. Won the toss and received a teamsheet with no Liam Dawson on it.

[nat]

James Vince has gone stale. We should make him an offer.