Paul Walter top scores as Essex begin pre-season preparations

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Paul Walter top-scored with 42 for Essex as their cricket season got underway at a sunny Chelmsford on Tuesday.

In a two-day friendly against Lancashire, Essex decided to bat first in a match scheduled for 90 overs per day.

The hosts lost Alistair Cook within the opening minutes of the day, caught at first slip by Keaton Jennings off the bowling of Sajib Mahmood.

Tom Westley and Walter steadied the ship until lunch but Essex’s skipper soon departed for 38 after the break.

A collapse ensued from that point on as Essex fell from 88-2 to 118 all out. Feroze Khushi and Robin Das both failed to score and only Adam Wheater’s 14 showed any sign of resistance from the home side.

This encounter was more of a training outfit than a competitive affair, displayed most by Alistair Cook batting twice, although only mustering five in his second attempt before being dismissed by Mahmood again.

Essex would continue batting throughout the day, with Lancashire due to bat tomorrow. Westley and Wheater finishing the day on 13 and 6 respectively as the home side finished on 161 for 13 wickets in 86 overs.

SQUAD:

Essex: Alastair Cook, Paul Walter, Tom Westley (c), Feroze Khushi, Robin Das, Adam Wheater, Ben Allison, Jamie Porter, Matt Quinn, Eshun Kalley, Harry Phillips, Josh Rymell, Will Buttleman

Lancashire: Dane Vilas (c), Keaton Jennings, Owais Shah, Alex Davies, Josh Bohannon, Steven Croft, Rob Jones, George Lavelle, Danny Lamb, Luke Wood, Tom Hartley, Tom Bailey, Saqib Mahmood, Liam Hurt, Jack Blatherwick, Jack Morley

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