Cricket: Essex survive spin onslaught

HENRY BLOFELD reports from Chelmsford Northants 214 and 482-9dec Essex 308 and 204-8 Match drawn

Although a rather too cautious declaration by Northamptonshire's captain, Rob Bailey, condemned this match to a draw, proceedings were enlivened late in the day by some excellent leg-break bowling by Andy Roberts backed up by John Emburey's immaculate off-spin.

At tea Essex, who had been asked to score 389 in what turned out to be 95 overs, had reached 118 in 47 overs. Then, in the space of eight overs, Emburey (34-16-48-4) removed Stuart Law while Roberts (29-10-70-3) accounted for Nasser Hussain and Ronnie Irani after having had Hussain dropped at slip.

There was time for another 11 overs before the last hour began and in the end Northants had 36 overs to take the last five wickets. Paul Prichard and Robert Rollins, hemmed in by close fielders, sat on the splice until Rollins was lbw half-forward to Roberts in the 10th over in the last hour.

With the spinners racing through their overs, 25 were bowled in this hour. Prichard and Ashley Cowan survived until the 23rd when the Essex captain played a wild and unnecessary cut at the last ball from Emburey and was caught behind. After a maiden from Roberts, Peter Such was caught off bat and pad from the first ball of the last over but Steve Andrew survived the last five balls in spite of a chorus of varied appeals.

The 25-year-old Roberts who is only 5ft 6in tall made his debut in 1989 and has never been given that much of a chance. He had taken 103 wickets before this match with an average of around 45 but on this showing he should become a regular in the side. After Anil Kumble's bowling last year, Northants are one county who must understand the advantage of wrist spin.