Essex moved closer to a commanding win against Nottinghamshire after skittling their opponents for a mere 93 on day three of the Vitality County Championship at Chelmsford.
Jamie Porter and Simon Harmer combined to dismantle Nottinghamshire’s first innings, sharing nine wickets between them. Porter’s blistering spell of 5-35 marked his third five-wicket haul of the season, including a remarkable three wickets in five deliveries. Harmer followed suit, delivering his best figures of the season with 4-16 from 12.5 overs, and later claimed two early wickets in Nottinghamshire's follow-on.
Despite Essex's dominance, Nottinghamshire captain Haseeb Hameed fought back in the second innings, remaining unbeaten on 100. He partnered with Joe Clarke (62), contributing to an unbroken 131-run stand for the third wicket, bringing Nottinghamshire to 180-2 at stumps. However, they still trail Essex by 184 runs, needing more to avoid an innings defeat.
Earlier, Essex posted a strong 457, thanks to centuries from Tom Westley (122) and Michael Pepper (115). When Nottinghamshire resumed their innings at 48-1, they quickly collapsed to 93 all out in just 87 minutes, with Harmer and Porter ripping through the lineup. Ben Slater (29) and Freddie McCann (11) were the only two players to add significantly before Harmer’s spin began to dismantle their resistance.
Nottinghamshire’s troubles deepened as Porter struck, trapping Joe Clarke lbw and dismissing Kyle Verreynne for 12. A stunning catch by Pepper removed Lyndon James, and Porter soon trapped Luke Fletcher for a golden duck. Harmer then wrapped up the innings, leaving Nottinghamshire far behind.
In response, Nottinghamshire’s second innings began with more composure. Hameed led from the front, surviving alongside Slater for 12 overs before Harmer removed Slater for eight and trapped McCann lbw for just four. Hameed notched his sixth half-century of the season, reaching his century off 151 balls just before the day’s close.
Essex’s performance came on the same day the ECB confirmed a 12-point deduction for the club after Feroze Khushi was found to have used an oversized bat earlier in the season, ending their slim chances of challenging for the title. Nonetheless, Essex remain poised for an emphatic victory heading into the final day.