Over 20. 4 runs. Bowler: Scott Currie. Essex Men: 9-136(rr 6.8) Over the wicket. Length ball, off stump, front foot, slog along the ground to Hilton Cartwright at deep mid wicket. 1 run.
Scott Currie bowls a full slower ball outside off, and Charlie Bennett attempts a drive but miscues it, the ball skimming along the ground to mid-off where it's fielded cleanly.
Over 19. 13 runs. Bowler: Chris Wood. Essex Men: 9-132(rr 6.95) Wood bowls a length ball just outside off, and Bennett cuts it brilliantly. He gets a fine outside-edge through third man for four. Another boundary from Bennett moves Essex closer, needing 80 runs off 6 balls with just one wicket in hand.
Chris Wood bowls a slower ball, drifting down leg as Charlie Bennett attempts a hook but misses entirely. The ball drifts wide and the umpire signals a wide, adding an extra run to the total.
Without any movement, the length ball on leg stump is met with a well-timed slog. Charlie Bennett drives it powerfully through long off for a boundary.
A short, no-movement delivery on leg stump sees Sam Cook attempt a cut, but he catches the bottom edge. The ball is quickly fielded at short fine leg, and no run is scored.
Chris Wood delivers a length ball down the leg side, and Sam Cook drives it well-timed through the mid-wicket region for a confident two runs. Sam Cook gets off the mark with a fluent strike.
Over 18. 4 runs. Bowler: Scott Currie. Essex Men: 9-119(rr 6.61) No movement as the length ball drifts just outside off stump. The batter attempts an uncontrolled slog but only manages a thick edge, resulting in a catch at deep mid-wicket. Noah Thain is out, caught by Hilton Cartwright. Noah Thain departs for 10 off 12. Essex now chase 93 from 12 balls with just one wicket left, facing a tough ask at a required run rate of 46.5.
Scott Currie bowls a slower ball beamer outside off, but Charlie Bennett misses his steer attempt. The umpire signals no ball for the dangerous beam, and an extra run is added.
Over 17. 6 runs. Bowler: Sonny Baker. Essex Men: 8-115(rr 6.76) No movement for the bowler as he delivers a length ball just outside off. Noah Thain plays a well-timed, compact drive along the ground but finds no gap for runs. Essex face a steep chase needing 97 from 18 balls with just two wickets left.
A length ball outside off stump, met crisp and low with a controlled drive that races away for a confident single. Charlie Bennett gets off the mark, adding to Essex's momentum.
Bowler bowls a full delivery on off stump, and Shane Snater attempts an aggressive slog but misses. He's bowled cleanly as the bails fly off. Shane Snater departs for 1 off 7 deliveries.
Over 16. 5 runs. Bowler: James Fuller. Essex Men: 7-109(rr 6.81) A short ball outside off from Fuller sees Noah Thain confidently pull it along the ground towards deep mid-wicket, cheekily stealing a single. Essex still face a steep chase, requiring 103 runs from 24 deliveries with three wickets in hand.
A slower ball floated just outside off, here comes a careful leave from the batter. The ball drifts wide and the umpire signals a wide, adding an extra to the scoreboard.
