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Masters’ seven banishes the pessimists
- Updated: August 31, 2016
Essex 111 for 1 (Westley 58*) trail Worcestershire 230 (Cox 63, Rhodes 59, Masters 7-52) by 119 runsScorecard
There is an air of expectancy around Chelmsford these days. Not only are they top of Division Two, eyes set on the sole promotion spot, but their team possesses the perfect blend of youth and experience. Their Championship performances have eclipsed those in recent seasons and, as a bonus to winning games, they are doing so in style. For an Essex fan, it makes uncomfortable viewing.
For the last few years they have had to temper expectations. Previous dawns have been false. Any calm a precursor to an unforeseen yet expected storm. At least in their eyes. In 2013, when Ben Foakes, now of Surrey, helped save Essex’s blushes against Kent with a composed 86 – his highest score at the time – one fan shouted up to the player’s balcony as a wide-eyed Foakes, knowing only of Essex, was being interviewed: “Well played Foakesy, but you’ll leave like the rest of ’em!” Twice in this match you got the feeling some felt more comfortable in that default state of self-mocking schadenfreude.
The first was a period after lunch, when Ben Cox led a Worcestershire charge, ably supported by George Rhodes, which saw boundaries flashed through the off side at will, as 94 was put on at over four an over. “This would be so Essex,” grumbled one fan sat in the sun-soaked stand opposite the Pavilion.
Those five words came to mind when Nick Browne pressed forward and left a delivery from Joe Leach, who got one to move into the …
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