Essex survive Berkshire challenge

There was a time when Essex, restricted to 218-9 in their 50 overs by a keen Berkshire side, were facing the ignominy of defeat at the hands of a minor county.

Berkshire lost two early wickets, but captain Julian Wood, formerly of Hampshire, and Jon Wood, a Victorian overseas professional, came together in a third wicket partnership to put the home side in with a distinct chance of causing an upset. While the Australian was more circumspect in his approach, Wood unleashed a series of delightful shots. One cover drive on the up off the bowling of Ronnie Irani would have graced the highest level of the game.

The introduction of the spinners, Tim Mason and Paul Grayson, put the brakes on Berkshire's scoring rate and frustration replaced aggression. Moss went walkabout to be stumped off Grayson, and when Wood got an inside edge to be bowled by Justin Bishop, the Berkshire resistance fell away and Essex moved to what appears a rather more comfortable victory than was, in reality, the case.

Earlier, Essex had lost a wicket to the first ball of the match when Darren Robinson was well caught at square leg hooking a lifting ball. When Nasser Hussain followed for 10, Stuart Law for 20 and Stephen Peters for 9, Essex were 73 for 4 and facing embarrassment. Hussain would have some grounds for dissatisfaction with his decision - lbw to a short ball bowled over the wicket by left-arm seamer Chris Batt.

However, Irani and Grayson put on 66 for the fifth wicket to ease Essex's worries. Irani went on to take the man-of-the-match award for the top score of 55 and three wickets, to put his team in a position from which the game could eventually be won.