Date-stamped : 30 Aug97 - 02:13 Essex batsmen on the back foot By David Green at Chelmsford First day of four: Essex 107-3 v Warwickshire RAIN, having delayed the start until 2.30, limited play there- after to 35 overs in which Warwickshire just about took the hon- ours af- ter Essex won the toss and batted. Though this match can have little bearing on the championship race, it has great significance as a rehearsal for the NatWest final. Allan Donald`s first ball, a low full toss, was clipped for four by Darren Robinson, who, though he played some fine strokes, was defeated morally several times by the South African as well as by Dougie Brown and Graeme Welch. Tim Hodgson, having come through Donald`s initial burst, drove loosely at Welch`s third ball and was well caught at the wicket. In came Nasser Hussain, who survived a big shout for leg before against Welch. Rain returned at 3.40, preventing further play until 5.30, when Donald, off a shorter run because of a wet run-up, struck Robinson on the visor. Hussain, after two vivid hooks off Brown and Donald, fell lbw on the back foot to the former. Robinson then chipped tamely to mid- wicket but Stuart Law played handsomely at the end. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Donald sees his work undone By David Green at Chelmsford Second day of four: Warwickshire (136-5) trail Essex (178) by 42 runs THE batting yesterday had an end-of-term feel about it as 12 wickets fell on a day from which rain cut 35 overs. Only Stu- art Law (54) and Nick Knight (48) prospered on a slow pitch. Allan Donald took five for 50, in the process passing 500 wickets in first-class games for Warwickshire in his ninth season with them. Essex lost their last seven wickets for 61 but Warwickshire in turn had problems when they batted. Play began on time despite some heavy showers earlier in the morning. Essex resumed at 107 for three and soon lost night- watchman Mark Ilott, caught low to his left by the alert Keith Piper in Donald`s second over. Law, meanwhile, creamed Dougie Brown for four through extra and on-drove Donald sweetly for three. Law was evidently not brooding over the -L300 fine imposed on him by Essex for abusive language having been hit by a beamer from Glamorgan`s Darren Thomas during the recent dramatic NatWest semi-final on this ground. Essex, prompted by the ECB to examine videotapes of the match, also reprimanded Ronnie Irani for using an expletive following his dismissal in the same match. Player discipline is one thing, but this smacks of Big Brother. Law reached his 50 with a sumptuous on-drive off Ashley Giles, repeating the stroke next ball before holing out through extra cover. Ian Flanagan, 17, making his debut, then provided impres- sively capable resistance as Donald and Giles mopped up. Warwickshire lost Andy Moles for nought, caught at mid-off from a lofted drive in the second over, and David Hemp, War- wick- shire`s leading batsman this season, was bowled by Ashley Cowan, pos- sibly off an inside edge after playing some firm strokes. Knight, whose season has been bedevilled by injury, looked in prime form, driving well through extra cover and playing flu- ently off his legs. At the other end, though, Dominic Ostler was undone by Peter Such`s arm-ball. Such had Knight lbw playing half forward but Trevor Penney, after an uncertain start, counter-attacked boldly, driving Such straight for six. Neil Smith`s was the 12th wicket to fall as Cowan found a good one to beat his defensive stroke. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Essex stutter in rehearsal By David Green at Chelmsford Third day of four: Warwickshire (237 and 43 for 2) bt Essex (178 and 101) by 8 wkts POOR batting by Essex, who were dismissed on a blameless pitch for 101, their worst total in any cricket since they made 57 in last year`s NatWest final, enabled Warwickshire to cruise to victo- ry here yesterday. Thus Warwickshire will approach next Saturday`s NatWest final, for which this match was a dress rehearsal, with considerably more confidence than Essex, who, having conceded a first-in- nings lead of 59, went down in a welter of irresponsible strokes. Such an outcome seemed unlikely during the morning when War- wickshire, resuming 42 runs behind at 136 for five, got in a tangle against the off-spin of Peter Such, whose six for 94 in- cluded three wick- ets in four balls. Keith Piper was lbw playing across the line, Dougie Brown was bowled first ball and Graeme Welch, having blocked his first ball, swept the next straight to deep square-leg. Fortunately for Warwickshire, Trevor Penney, who finished with 77 not out, stood firm and, assisted first by Ashley Giles then by Allan Donald, grafted solidly as his side built up a useful lead. Essex were soon in deep trouble, Tim Hodgson nicking a wideish one from Donald and Darren Robinson falling lbw to Brown aiming to leg. When Stuart Law flashed fatally and was caught behind, Essex were one for three. Nasser Hussain got one that kept a little low and was lbw to Welch but Paul Grayson, driving straight to extra cover, Danny Law, heaving to leg, and Robert Rollins all fell to poor strokes. Ian Flanagan, though, again showed considerable composure, re- sisting for 70 minutes until undone by Giles`s quicker ball. Donald returned to dismiss Ashley Cowan and Such, finishing with three for seven and match figures of 30.5-13-57-8. Andy Moles suffered a recurrence of his Achilles tendon trou- ble when taking a sharp single. He has made important contribu- tions to Warwickshire`s NatWest success so far, but he is now out of the final and faces an operation. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)