Essex’s Tom Westley and Paul Walter rescued their team from a precarious position with a commanding 142-run fifth-wicket partnership against Nottinghamshire in the Vitality County Championship. Westley’s unbeaten 108 from 214 balls, his highest score of the season, anchored the Essex innings, while Walter’s aggressive 72 from 106 balls, featuring 10 fours and a six, provided the impetus.
Essex’s innings had been in danger of collapse at 86 for 4 when the pair came together. Westley, who arrived in the sixth over, remained at the crease for 68 overs, guiding Essex to a commanding 262 for 5 at the close of a day interrupted by rain.
Walter’s big hitting under the Chelmsford floodlights propelled him to his third half-century in his last six innings. His only previous century this season came against Durham in June.
Nottinghamshire’s bowlers toiled throughout the day, but pace bowler Rob Lord, 23, impressed in only his second Championship game, claiming two of the first four Essex wickets. He finished with figures of 2 for 53 from 15 overs.
On a damp and overcast day, Nottinghamshire elected to field first, seeking their second victory of the season. However, Essex lost Dean Elgar cheaply to Lord, and Robin Das was caught at second slip for 20 after being dropped earlier.
Luke Fletcher bowled unchanged for 13 overs either side of lunch, troubling Westley with his pace and accuracy. He eventually dismissed Matt Critchley with a delivery that jagged back.
Debutant Luc Benkenstein’s first scoring shot in first-class cricket was a delightful pull for four, but he was dismissed next ball by Lord.
As the conditions eased and the ball softened, Westley and Walter began to build their partnership. Westley’s half-century took 79 balls, while Walter played his way in carefully before unleashing some elegant shots.
The pair put on the first fifty of their partnership in just six overs, and Westley reached his own half-century with a flowing off-drive against Fletcher. Walter also played his way in carefully before whipping James off his legs for a first boundary and then twice lofting Farhan Ahmed to the rope behind the bowler.
Westley pulled Lord to fine leg to mark the pair’s century partnership in 26 overs. Next ball, Walter pulled the bowler through square leg for his eighth boundary to bring up a 65-ball fifty. He then welcomed the introduction of Liam Patterson-White’s spin with a four and a six to long-off.
The pair were finally parted after 42 overs when Walter went to sweep Ahmed but got a leading edge that looped up to gully. However, soon afterwards, some careless fielding by the visitors handed Westley five runs courtesy of overthrows, which took him to three figures from 193 balls.
