Essex completed their first win of the 2021 County Championship season on Sunday, beating Durham by 44 runs at Chelmsford.
For large portions of the four days, Essex were behind the game, but a spirited third innings batting display, and a Simon Harmer ten-wicket haul, completed the turnaround for the Eagles.
Essex Falter Early
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Essex’s top order struggled to negotiate the swinging ball – an encouraging 32 from England’s recent debutant, Daniel Lawrence, was Essex’s top score in a meagre total of 96. Harmer’s five wickets in response helped restrict Durham to a lead of 163 which gave the home team a slim chance of pulling off a victory.
Essex’s task of reducing the 163-run deficit and setting a competitive score for Durham to chase got off to the worst possible start, losing openers Alastair Cook and Nick Browne before the Essex score reached 20. However, a patient 38 from captain Tom Westley and a stylish half-century from Lawrence gave Essex the partnership they needed to force themselves back into the game.
Fight Back
The impressive Paul Walter remained calm as wickets fell around him scoring a career-best 77 to give Essex further hope. However, when the all-rounder departed to the bowling of Brydon Carse, Essex’s only led by 100.
An unlikely 9th wicket stand of 53 between Sam Cook and Ben Allison then gave Essex all the momentum as they set Durham a precarious target of 167 on a pitch beginning to offer further spin.
Essex got off to a flying start defending the total. Sam Cook and Jamie Porter each took a wicket in their opening overs and another wicket from Cook left Durham struggling at 20-3.
A 63-run partnership from Durham batsmen Scott Borthwick and Jack Burham threatened to wrestle the initiative away from Essex late on day three, but Harmer saved Essex’s blushes with a further four wickets on day four leaving Durham short in their pursuit of 167 runs. The win gave the hosts 19 points, compared to Durham’s five.
After the game, Harmer told the Romford Recorder:
“For us to conjure up 160-odd for them to chase gave the boys belief. What we’ve achieved over the last four years really gave us the belief we could still win from the position we were in.”
The Eagles showed the mentality of champions as they had to come from behind to win the match. Essex were 163 runs behind after the first innings, and looked dead and buried.
