Irani steers rejuvenated Essex to final
Essex 262-9 Worcestershire 124 Essex win by 138 runs
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Your support makes all the difference.A truly outstanding catch, by Graham Napier, flying high to his left at backward point, sealed an emphatic victory for Essex over Worcestershire by 138 runs on the second day of this Benson and Hedges Cup semi-final.
It was not that the result was ever in doubt after Ronnie Irani, the Essex captain, had almost single-handedly won the game for his side in the 62 overs of play that were possible yesterday, but it was fitting that such a wonderful piece of cricket should take Essex to their first Lord's final since 1998, when they beat Leicestershire in this competition by 198 runs.
The catch also emphasised what an impressive all-round performance this has been from an Essex side rejuvenated by the arrival of Graham Gooch as coach.
Taking charge of what last season appeared to be a fractured squad, torn apart by dressing-room disharmony Gooch, along with his captain Irani, have transformed Essex into a disciplined, tightly knit and competitive outfit.
The home side were in such total control of this game that they managed not only to win it comfortably but make it through the presentation ceremony and still have time to open a celebratory beer before England's footballers started their World Cup game against Argentina.
Starting at 26 for 4 and still needing a further 237 to win this match, Worcestershire would have been well aware that they required something exceptional from their remaining two recognised batsmen if they were to put up any sort of challenge. This Worcestershire failed to do as it took Essex only seven balls to remove one of them, David Leatherdale. The right-hander was bowled by a beauty from Jonathan Dakin's first ball, it pitched on and hit the top of off stump and with this dismissal went the visitors' last real hope.
Gareth Batty was the next to go when he chipped John Stephenson to Ashley Cowan at midwicket after he and Steven Rhodes at least put up some sort of a fight with a partnership of 50, and the fact that it took Batty almost nine overs to add to his overnight six not out summed up the discipline of Essex's bowlers.
The medium-pace bowler Andy Clarke picked up Rhodes and the last two wickets with a couple of well-camouflaged slower balls, one of which was hit to Irani at long-off. It was his only contribution yesterday but the major damage had been done.
Irani deservedly won the Gold Award and can look forward to leading his side out at Lord's on 22 June.
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