... and triumph!

[undyingking]

We did it! -- with more than 5 overs to spare. From 207-5 when I last posted, to 359-5 to win. The excellent unbroken 6th-wicket partnership of 156 from 105 balls between Mark Pettini and Ryan ten Doeschate saw Essex home in what turned out to be comfort. Ten Doeschate in particular struck the ball brilliantly, scoring 108* off just 59 balls, including 9 4s and 8 6s. (You might remember him batting the Netherlands to victory over England in the World Twenty20 earlier this summer.)

So, back into the first division, after an absence of 6 years. It's going to be an interesting challenge, and to be honest we could easily come straight back down (as happened last time we got promoted). We will need to find a really good overseas player to replace Danish Kaneria, who has been great for us -- but we have a lot of good youngsters coming through as well, so at this stage I will be cautiously optmistic!

Comments

[mrlloyd.livejournal.com]

Hurrah! I was utterly indifferent to this until I read below that they had declared behind. That's the kind of panache that deserves to get results.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Panache is our middle name in Essex (as well as being a dodgy nightclub in Southend (probably)).

We had also had to declare behind in the previous championship match, to give ourselves a chance of winning -- against Northants, who were then occupying the last promotion spot ahead of us. That was a bit of a tighter chase -- we needed 36 off the last 4 overs, and ended up winning with just one ball to spare.

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

Given that Yorkshire have stayed up, and the success was in no way at their expense, I offer the most hearty congratulations! Even to the extent that I do not begrudge Essex their win over the Tykes in the Pro-40s (cos let's face it, who cares?!)

I totally agree with mrlloyd about the kudos value of declaring behind; I mean they were in something of a "shit or bust" situation, but even so, it takes some grit to do that.

In other news: Gosh, Aren't England Doing Unexpectedly Well in SA? I always had faith that Colly would come good again, but who knew that that bloke Shah could bat? I mean there's been rumours about him for a while, but if being a good batsman was a crime, the combined talents of every CSI franchise on telly would have had a hard time securing a conviction from what I've seen! Jim Anderson also bowling a treat.

Odds of an England-Australia final anyone?

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, we won our last 5 out of 5 Pro40 games, but it all seemed a bit pointless. I heartily wish the counties were going to be abolishing that, rather than the 50-over competition.

Not having seen or heard any coverage of the current tournament, I'm finding it all quite hard to believe. Is it another Shah of the same name? And he, Colly and Morgan all scored heavily in both games, when just a few weeks ago we didn't seem to have a middle order at all. Maybe the altitude has been good for their blood. (I hope we do get Aus in the final, we're on a roll against them!)

[mr-malk.livejournal.com]

Ah yes, we have the momentum from the previous game.

A crucial point, as has been said by so many pundits this summer. And the team's aura too. That helps. I can't remember though, did we have an aura? I think Australia were meant to have lost theirs, but it had probably just fallen down the back of the sofa if you ask me...