Date-stamped : 28 Apr97 - 06:19
AXA Life League: Irani spurs Essex to victory

By Geoffrey Dean

Essex (202-7) bt Hants (198-5) by 3 wkts

RONNIE  Irani`s  good   early   season    form    continued    at
Chelmsford as he played a key part, with bat and ball, in Essex`s
tight victory over Hampshire.

Irani, with three for 36, obtained regular movement off the  seam
on  a  helpful pitch and later made a  steadying  48 off 69 balls
after Essex had started badly.

The game was still in the balance at 129  for  five  in the  31st
over.  But  Danny Law partially atoned for  some  wayward bowling
with 23 off 25 balls, including one  colossal  straight  six  off
John  Stephenson.  Darren Robinson and the  tail  somehow scraped
the 26 needed off  the  last  three  overs.   Nine   were  wanted
off the final one, bowled by Cardigan Connor.

Hampshire owed what proved to be a useful total to Matt Keech and
Will  Kendall, who added 104 at nearly six  an  over after coming
together at 56  for  three.  Kendall  reached   a  maiden  Sunday
fifty off just 48 balls.

Essex`s bowling and outcricket fell away in the  second  half  of
the  Hampshire  innings.  Ilott`s last four overs went for 39 and
Law`s only two cost 26.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/)

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