Jerome Taylor’s hat-trick goes in vain as Cook and Ten Doeschate guides Essex to victory

Essex secured what was their fourth victory in the Royal London Cup, owing to centuries from both Alastair Cook and Ryan Ten Doeschate. Riding on their contributions, Essex put up a formidable score of 295 in 50 overs, at the cost of seven wickets.

What makes their contribution special is the fact that for once, Essex were struggling at 19 for the loss of 3 wickets. West Indian right-arm fast bowler Jerome Taylor went all guns blazing against the top order. The Essex batsmen had no answer to the fiery West Indian’s violent speed. Taylor got a superb hat-trick, which lead to the top-order collapse. This is when Cook and ‘Tendo’ steadied the ship.

Cook scored a handsome 131-ball 109, which took his total to 317 in five one-day innings. Doeschate unleashed the fireworks from the other end, scoring 102 runs in just 91 deliveries. Their fifth-wicket partnership enabled Essex to put up a decent total on the scoreboard, which meant too tough a task for Sussex.

Taylor picked up three wickets in three successive bowls of his third over. Varun Chopra was the first one to be dismissed, who was followed by Tom Westley and Adam Wheater. The fourth wicket of Dan Lawrence fell after a 65 run partnership between Lawrence and Cook. But the rest of the Sussex bowlers failed to capitalize on the opportunity, as Cook and Doeschate eventually took control of the game.

In reply, Stiaan Van Zyl and Chris Nash both scored half-centuries, but the lacked the innings played by Cook and ten Doeschate, who can stabilize the innings. Sussex eventually was bowled out for 285, securing a 10-run win for Essex.

Sussex captain Luke Wright was disappointed at his side’s dismal performance. He was particularly angry at Shahzad for dropping Doeschate’s catch when he was batting on 38. After the match, he said “It came down to that moment when it’s never a bowler’s catch. It goes up and it’s straight to a keeper with big gloves on and then he would take the catch.  I think everyone in the ground was shouting, ‘keepers!’ But, look, the bowler wanted it and unfortunately he dropped. At that point it’s a big moment and Tendo made use of it”.

Essex is placed second in the South Zone group, with 8 points in five matches, whereas Sussex is just below them, with 7 points in six matches. Essex will now play against Middlesex on the 12th of May, at the County Ground, Chelmsford. Sussex will be up against Gloucestershire, on the 14th of May, at Saffrons ground on Eastbourne.