Essex hit back to end the day honours even against Surrey

Essex recovered from a perilous position of 81-6 to eventually be bowled out for 271 thanks to a century from Matt Critchley. At the close Surrey lost Ryan Patel to the last ball of the day to close on 24-1.

Essex won the toss and unsurprisingly elected to bat first on the warmest day of the year in the hottest conditions the Oval has seen for a while.

The visitors lost their fierst wicket after twenty minutes of play when Nick Browne(10) edged returning Kemar Roach behind where Ben Foakes took a fine low catch.

Essex had steadily moved on to 50-2 when  Dan Worrall bagged two wickets in two deliveries. The experienced 31-year-old bowled Tom Westley(11) playing across the line and trapped Dan Lawrence lbw next ball. Paul Walter avoided the hat trick ball before Worrall picked up his third scalp inside five balls when Walter who had faced three balls edged to slip to leave Essex 54-4.

Despite wickets falling around him, it was looking like Cook would get to lunch unscathed, but with lunch approaching the opener was caught in the slips by Ollie Pope for 29 off the bowling of Jamie Overton.

To cap a thoroughly successful opening session for Surrey, Roach switched ends and bowled Matt Critchley(21) on the stroke of lunch to leave Essex in a perilous position of 81-6 with the first session belonging to Surrey.

Adam Rossington and Simon Harmer knuckled down to dig Essex out of trouble with Rossington bringing up a patient half century off 86 balls.

The pair denied Surrey any further success during the second session of the day with a superb century partnership which was brought up in the penultimate over before tea.

At tea, Essex had fought back to reach 194-6 with Rossington on 55 and Harmer 45, with batting looking considerably easier.

Shortly after tea Surrey started to make some inroads into the lower order when Harmer(50) and Shane Snater(0) fell inside three balls to the excellent Worrall.

Despite an unbeaten 21 from Sam Cook, Essex were dismissed for 271 with Worrall finishing with figures of 6-56.

Rory Burns and Ryan Patel had to negotiate nine overs with Patel(4) falling to Cook to end an intriguing days play with both sides holding sway at various times of the day.

Surrey        Essex

                            LV= County Championship Day One Tuesday 19^th July 2022

                                  Essex   271   Surrey 24-1

                              Peter Moore at the Kia Oval

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