Essex Clinches Third Win in One-Day Cup

Essex secured their third victory in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup with a comfortable five-wicket win against Sussex Sharks at Hove. 

The foundation for Essex’s triumph was laid by Jamie Porter, who tore through Sussex’s top order, taking four crucial wickets with the new ball. Sussex found themselves in deep trouble at 50 for 6, but a resilient 69 from skipper John Simpson led a lower-order recovery, guiding them to a total of 226 for 9. Despite the slow pitch at the 1st Central County Ground, used for the third consecutive match, the score never seemed sufficient.

Essex’s chase began with a minor setback when Robin Das edged a wide delivery from left-arm seamer Jack Campbell. However, Luc Benkenstein and captain Tom Westley quickly steadied the ship with a partnership of 94 runs for the second wicket, maintaining a run-a-ball pace. Benkenstein, who had just launched two sixes off leg-spinner Archie Lenham, was run out by a sharp direct hit from Tom Haines when he was on 49.

Westley, already in fine form, reached his third half-century of the tournament with a six off Lenham. He looked set for a big score, amassing 76 with 12 boundaries, but was undone by a brilliant direct hit from Zach Lion-Cachet while attempting a second run from the leg-side boundary.

At that point, Essex required just 63 runs from 21 overs. Despite losing a couple more wickets to the leg-spin duo of Bertie Foreman and Archie Lenham, Nick Browne and Ben Allison comfortably guided Essex to victory with 28 balls remaining.

This defeat marked Sussex’s seventh loss, leaving them at the bottom of Group B for the second consecutive season. Since reaching the semi-finals in 2022, Sussex has managed only two wins in the competition.

After winning the toss, Sussex began cautiously, with openers Tom Clark and Tom Haines adding 25 runs before the collapse began. Allison initiated the downfall by dismissing Clark, and Porter then dismantled the top order, claiming three wickets in quick succession. Haines was caught at backward point, Charlie Tear was beaten by a ball that straightened, and Oli Carter had his stumps shattered by an inswinger. Lion-Cachet’s mistimed pull to midwicket handed Porter his fourth wicket, and when Henry Rogers missed a straight delivery from the impressive Jamal Richards, Sussex’s innings was in shambles.

Simpson, however, played a determined knock, adding 27 with Lenham for the seventh wicket before Lenham was trapped leg-before by Westley. Simpson found another solid partner in 20-year-old left-hander Foreman, who has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for Sussex. They shared a 54-run stand for the eighth wicket, with Simpson reaching his tenth List A fifty.

Simpson’s innings ended at 69 when he drove loosely to cover, and Foreman’s attempt at a maiden List A half-century fell short when he miscued a pull in the penultimate over. Nevertheless, No. 10 Henry Crocombe’s unbeaten 43 helped Sussex add 66 runs for the ninth wicket, as the last three wickets contributed 138 runs to the total.