Although the Twenty20 Cup proved to be a welcome money-spinner for the county, the on-field performances failed to match the success off the pitch

Even before the last match with Middlesex had been staged on Tuesday, Essex found themselves eliminated from the latter stages of the competition.

Having lost the first game, against Surrey at Imber Court, Essex responded with a nail-biting success at Southampton, winning by four runs after the visitors had reached 155 for six, thanks to 49 from Andy Flower and an unbeaten 32 from Mark Pettini

Compere for the night, radio celebrity and comedian Mike Osman, attempted to whip the crowd into a frenzy as he counted down the runs and overs in the Hampshire reply and, when 12 runs were required from the final over with seven wickets intact, Hampshire seemed odds-on favourites

But Jon Dakin produced a terrific finale, conceding a boundary, a single and a bye with three dot balls to ensure he had the last word over the loquacious Mr Osman

Three nights later, 7,300 people crowded into the County Ground at Chelmsford with several hundred finding a vantage point in a cordoned off area in front of the pavilion to witness the match with Kent staged under the floodlights

The level of support for the fixture fully vindicated the committee's decision to install floodlights during the winter

Essex CCC Chief executive David East was all smiles as he said: "It (Twenty20) is clearly something that people want to watch and one thing that cricket desperately needs is new people watching it and new income being attracted to the game. That is absolutely crucial for our continued success."

The game proved something of an anti-climax compared to the effervescent atmosphere of the crowd and, once again, an announcer played his full part in trying to fuel the crowd's passions.

However impromptu, a wider audience does not always appreciate comments, however amusing they may seem to the announcer, and this is one aspect that the club would do well to address Essex failed to bat through their allocation, making a disappointing 116 in 18.4 overs with Andy Flower's 33, which included two sixes, the highest score.

In response, an amazing blitz by Andrew Symonds, who hit 32 runs from 15 balls, and James Tredwell, who struck 31 off 22 deliveries, produced 58 runs in five overs with 44 in boundaries Dakin conceded four in six deliveries from the whirling bat of Tredwell, and then Scott Brant felt the full force of the powerhouse hitting of Australian Symonds, who smote three successive boundaries off the left arm pace man.

Although Graham Napier broke the partnership, the damage had been done and, despite two more wickets for the all-rounder who finished with admirable figures of three for 20, the foundations for Kent's three wicket victory had been laid and they were able to coast to the win with 3.5 overs to spare

Less than 24 hours later, Essex were in action again, this time at Hove where Sussex reached 180 for six from their 20 overs to set their opponents a challenging target.

Essex made an excellent start in front of a 3,000 crowd with Flower and skipper Ronnie Irani, who opened the innings, putting on 67 in nine overs for the first wicket.

After the loss of Irani for 39, Ravinder Bopara joined Flower in a stand worth 53 in five overs.

However, both batsmen were dismissed in the 18th over to successive deliveries, Bopara having scored 22 and Flower a classy 71 that included 10 boundaries, to become the first Essex player to record a half-century in the competition

Published Thursday, June 26, 2003

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