Royals Left High and Dry Despite Career Best from Ervine

Essex Eagles beat Hamsphire Royals by 9 wickets in their FPt20 clash at The Rose Bowl.

Hampshire Royals v Essex Eagles
Friends Provident t20
Sunday 27th June 2010
The Rose Bowl

Summary
Essex Eagles beat Hampshire Royals by 9 wickets
Hampshire Royals: 159-8
Essex Eagles: 164-1 (18.0 overs)

The Hampshire Royals continued their unfortunate pattern of win-one-lose-one with a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of the Essex Eagles at The Rose Bowl.

It wasn’t all bad news, however, as Sean Ervine recorded a career-best 74 not out with the bat. Unfortunately the 159 the Royals registered never really looked commanding enough.

For the visitors, Ravi Bopara also plundered his highest t20 score - 94 off just 65 balls - as the Eagles chased down their victory target of 160 with 12 balls to spare.

Danny Briggs took the only wicket for Hampshire, ending the match with reasonable figures of 1-20 off his 3 overs.

Scott Styris opened the bowling for Essex and quickly snared Michael Lumb lbw for 4 with a full-length delivery. This brought the in-form James Vince to the crease but he only gave a tantalising glimpse of his precocious talent, reaching 11 before holing out off Chris Wright. After four overs the visitors were on top with The Royals 29 for 2.

Jimmy Adams batted well, however, and kept the scoreboard ticking over with some purposeful running. He then greeted Danish Kaneria with a resounding straight six and at the halfway stage, he and Ervine were rebuilding nicely on 78 for 3.

Ervine looked in prime touch and went through to 50 off just 34 balls with five 4’s and one mighty
maximum. He propelled the hosts past 150 with another six as Hampshire finished on 159 for 8; Ervine smuggling 74 runs off 49 balls.

 

Ervine hit a career-best 74 not out off

Bopara and Alastair Cook got the reply off to a brisk start in reaching 30 without loss after 4 overs.

The England opener kept up the early momentum by planting Ervine into the stand and after the power play Essex were 49-0. Bopara repeated the feat in Simon Jones’ first over as the visitors charged towards their victory target.

The introduction of spin paid immediate dividends when Briggs removed Cook for a well-made 28 and after 10 overs, the Eagles had reached 78 for 1.

Bopara continued to play aesthetically and registered a fine half-century from 40 balls. Matt Walker ensured that none of the momentum was lost as he raced to 20 off 14 balls with three boundaries.  The Essex duo plainly wanted to finish the game in time for the football and Bopara deposited Briggs into the new East stand for another six.

With fours overs remaining the Eagles were cantering towards a thumping win with just 18 needed; Bopara blasting three consecutive fours off Ervine in reaching 81 off 57.

Bopara fittingly sealed the win by slapping Jones out of the ground.

Hampshire’s next game (a win, if all goes to suite) will be against Glamorgan at The Rose Bowl on Thursday – a double header, with England’s women playing New Zealand’s women earlier in the day. Tickets are two for the price of one.

Words: Neil Evans; Pictures: LMI Photography

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