I only get to see Essex.live two or three times a season, as I live within five miles of the ground, and on this performance I am not missing much.
Contrast two overseas players.
Amir for Essex. Brevis for Hampshire.
Amir, ageing, well past his best as a fast bowler and filleted expertly by Vince in his opening overs.
Brevis, emerging quickly as a global powerhouse batsman, smashing his first ballfor six, before a quickfile fifty odd of only 22 ball, I think. What a signing, maybe the signing of the season.
Boundaries - Hampshire hit them, Essex did not.
We were comfortably out batted and out bowled but not outfielded with Hampshire dropping three catches. We bowled either too full or two short.
Hampshire were gifted a dream start through Vince?s dismantling of Amir in particular. Cook fared little better, bowling too straight and being picked off superbly by Vince whose driving shone
out like a beacon. What a player he is.
Before we could blink Hampshire had amassed 50 runs off five overs and never looked back.
A suicidal run out of Elgar in first over and we never recovered with run rate required climbing every over.
I left when Critchley lobbed a catch and on my way back to the car heard at least three more wickets fall. Run rate over 16.
If you do not leave early you are likely to be caught up in the most illdisciplined, unmarshalled rush for the exit and can take nearly an hour to get out.
Hampshire are a formidable side especially at home. They have a well balanced side covering every base.
Essex?s fragility was expertly exposed.
Pepper frankly looked out of his depth batting at three, flailing away scoring several lucky boundaries courtesy of his bat?s edge through slip and short third man areas. Our shot selection was rustic, too often hitting across the line and aerial, no doubt governed by scoreboard pressure.
Hampshire will be well to the fore I suspect.
For Essex a long angst ridden summer ahead.
