Ryan ten Doeschate secures Essex last-over win

Ryan ten Doeschate was the hero as Essex pulled off a thrilling victory by 62 runs against Hampshire at Chelmsford in the County Championship. After scoring an unbeaten half-century, Ten Doeschate returned figures of 5 for 13 from 5.5 overs as Hampshire were bowled out for 185 after facing a target of 248 in 48 overs.

Victory was achieved with the fifth delivery of the final over as David Masters took a fine catch at leg slip to get rid of David Griffiths and provide ten Doeschate with his final success. The Netherlands allrounder was introduced into the attack with the visitors looking slight favourites with 78 required from 11 overs and six wickets remaining.

But he immediately struck to get Chris Benham caught behind by James Foster to end a partnership of 46 with Nic Pothas and send the Hampshire innings into rapid decline. Pothas, Kabir Ali and Danny Briggs were ten Doeschate's other victims, while Masters got rid of Sean Ervine.

It all served to leave Hampshire shellshocked following an opening partnership of 71 between Mike Carberry and Jimmy Adams. That ended when Chris Wright tempted Adams into a hook which ended in Foster taking a fine running catch in the region of fine leg.

It was one of five catches taken by the wicketkeeper to add to the couple he claimed in the first innings. Earlier in the day, Essex, who had resumed their second innings on 131 for 4, found themselves on the back foot when Tom Westley was caught behind off James Tomlinson without adding to his overnight 69.

His departure left ten Doeschate with the task of holding the innings together but he was unable to find anyone to keep him company for any length of time. None of the four remaining batsmen managed to reach double figures as they were demolished by fast bowler Kabir.

His fire and hostility brought him figures of 5 for 33 from 22.4 overs on his Hampshire debut. When the defences of Maurice Chambers were breached to bring the innings to a close, ten Doeschate was left stranded on 66, an innings containing 10 fours and one six.

But, as later events were to prove, it was with the ball that he made the greatest impact as Essex announced their arrival in the Division One with 21 points. Hampshire had to settle for six.