Jacks to the rescue

Pete

Jul 26

Last week Keith and I went to see Surrey play Essex in Division 1 of the cricket County Championship. It was a warm day, thankfully 10 degrees cooler than the previous 2 days, and a nice breeze was blowing across the ground. Real cricket weather.

Surrey having been on top on the previous day had allowed Essex to escape and score 271 in their first innings. Surrey preceded to struggle all morning add shortly after lunch were 113-6 with most of their recognised batsman out. Only Will Jacks remained and slowly helped by Tom Lawes, Kemar Roach and Dan Worrell he turned the game round and Surrey edged closer and closer to Essex score. When Roach was out he was still 16 runs short of his century and he decided to go for broke against the Essex slow bowlers hitting 6,6,4 to go to his century. Rather puzzlingly, the Essex captain decided to continue with his spinners and Jacks took full advantage hitting a further 6 sixes and 3 fours as he went in 16 balls from 100 to 150! It was at this point that Worrell, a specialist bowler, who had contributed 1 run to the 50+ runs they had put on for the last wicket was finally out. What had seemed like a certain first innings deficit had turned into a useful lead of 48 and Surrey made full use of it by taking 2 Essex wickets for only 19 runs before the close of play.