Emburey in court circular

Round-up

John Emburey had an extraordinary day yesterday, on and off the field. Ten minutes before play he was summoned from Northampton to the High Court for the Imran Khan v Botham and Lamb case.

He was not required to give evidence, arrived back at the ground at 3.50, and after being given special dispensation to bowl immediately he took the final two Middlesex wickets as the visitors were dismissed for 157.

Northamptonshire then struggled to 92 for 5 and with Emburey anticipating a possible return to the High Court today, he batted at No 3 and scored 11 in just over an hour before being out.

Wickets tumbled throughout the country yesterday and the first team to be bowled out were Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford. Ronnie Irani took 5 for 27, his best for Essex, and Mark Ilott took four as the visitors were dismissed for 97 in 36.3 overs.

Batting was much easier for Essex, for whom Graham Gooch scored 91, as they finished on 234 for 4, a lead of 137. Indeed they went ahead without without losing a wicket.