Graham Napier impressed with bat and ball against Middlesex at Lord's

With England whimpering out the European Football Championship, it freed up Thursday night for everyone to sit and watch a top-of-the-table T20 clash at Fortress Chelmsford.

Essex, in second place, welcomed Sussex, the league leaders, on a hot Thursday evening. Rather than comment on the actual game afterwards I decided to sit and watch the game and write throughout, creating “in-play blogging’.

I managed to catch bits of England’s women steam-rolling India, something made that much nicer by off-spinner (and prolific Tweeter) Danielle Wyatt playing, she is this writer’s lady-crush...so you know, if she’s reading, my twitter address is at the bottom... *sigh*...anyway, Essex time!

Essex fielded a strong team, won the toss, and batted first with Pettini and Jimmy Franklin marching into the middle to open.

Here we go; Pettini facing first, Sussex opening the bowling with England’s forgotten-man Luke Wright...

10 overs in and Essex are 66-2. We lost Pettini for 1, caught in the deep and Franklin for a fluent 25. Napier and Tendo are in the middle and both looking fairly good. Napier did slice a huge edge up in the air off Yardy’s bowling only for the keeper to drop a sitter! Essex could do with speeding up a tad...as I type that Napier has hit 17 off Yardy’s next over! Unfortunately, Napier hit the last ball of the over straight up into the air and this time was caught by the keeper. 11 overs in, Essex are 83-3 and Fozzie’s joined Tendo in the middle. Essex must be looking at around 170, will report back at the end of the innings.

End of the Essex innings and they’ve batted brilliantly and have made 177-4. After Napier’s 27-ball 32, Tendo managed 39 off 27. However it was Fozzie who really blew Sussex away. The skipper blasted 65 from just 31 balls with four massive 6’s!

Sussex will have to bat well to make this, but Essex are still going to need to bowl very well, open the bowling is Tim Phillips...

7 overs in and Sussex are 70-0, bad signs, going to hide behind the sofa until the end of the game. C’mon Essex!!

178-6...Sussex win, Essex lost their third T20 game of the season. Wickets for Napier, Smith, Tendo and Topley, who I actually thought bowled pretty well. This defeat does show the one thing Essex are missing and it’s another spinner. Phillips does bowl very well but you need someone else for the off-nights. If these rumors of Harbhajan Singh signing are true, Essex should definitely look to confirm that signing. Despite the loss it was a good game, Fozzie again playing brilliantly, Essex now must push to qualify for Finals Day! EAGLES!!

Follow James on Twitter @JamesDLong