Sam Cook led Essex to a 254-run victory over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, taking 6 wickets for just 14 runs on the final day to add to his first-innings hat-trick. Cook's match figures were an impressive 10 wickets for 73 runs, putting to rest any doubts about his ability to perform with the Kookaburra ball, which is being used in four rounds of the 2024 County Championship season.
Cook is an English seamer who bowls at speeds closer to 80mph than 90mph. He has a phenomenal first-class record with 275 wickets at 19.48. He could be in contention for Test cricket this summer following Stuart Broad's retirement and Essex head coach Anthony McGrath believes he could thrive.
Nottinghamshire was dismissed for 80 in their fourth innings, chasing a target of 335 runs in 88 overs after Essex declared early on the final morning. Jamie Porter, Cook's bowling partner, took 3 wickets for 43 runs to secure a 20-point victory.
Nottinghamshire may face a points deduction as their opener, Feroze Khushi, failed an on-field dimensions check during their second innings, which could result in a loss of up to 16 points. In 2022, Durham was penalised 10 points because Nic Maddison's bat did not fit the measurement gauge used by umpires in English cricket.
On the final morning, having added 45 runs in six overs to their overnight total of 329 for 8, Essex declared their second innings closed. Shane Snater was the only batsman dismissed, caught at long-leg for 47 off 46 balls, as Adam Rossington overcame a finger injury to finish unbeaten on 39 off 49.
Ben Duckett was bowled for 5, struck on the outside edge for the second time in the innings when Porter edged one that straightened off the pitch. In the following over, Haseeb Hameed was dismissed after Cook sent his off stump flying. Ben Slater also fell to Cook, edging the ball to second slip.
Joe Clarke and Matt Montgomery steadied the innings for the next 45 minutes, but when Clarke bottom-edged Snater into his stumps just before lunch, Nottinghamshire were 39 for 4. Unfortunately, their hopes of salvaging the game quickly evaporated after the interval.
Montgomery was bowled by Cook after swinging his arms at a delivery that snapped back sharply and took his off stump. Jack Haynes was stumped by another nip-backer, this time from Porter. Cook then removed Calvin Harrison (leg before) and Brett Hutton (comprehensively cleaned up) in the space of four deliveries to complete his 13th five-wicket haul in first-class cricket.
Finally, Cook struck again to have Pennington edging to first slip. Dane Paterson hit six runs with one powerful shot at Porter, but lost his wicket trying to repeat the feat. Essex secured their victory at nine minutes to three.