Essex County Cricket Club set a high standard of excellence in their recent T20 match against Kent. Nineteen-year-old pace bowler Charlie Bennett, twenty-six-year-old batsman and Ireland international Curtis Campher helped their side achieve a comprehensive win over Surrey at Chelmsford. In this match, Bennett took five wickets for just 36 runs, while Campher scored an impressive unbeaten 123 runs off 68 deliveries. This victory solidified Essex’s competitive edge as they scored a total of 417 runs for the loss of six wickets.
His first five-wicket haul in limited overs cricket was the best of his very short career, helping to double his wickets count in the tournament. In only his fifth senior appearance for Essex, he claimed the scalp of an otherwise untried Surrey side. They did so having only fallen for 171 runs. His victims included former England opener Rory Burns, announcing himself as the next big thing in cricket.
“It feels amazing. A lot of hard work has gone into it,” – Charlie Bennett.
Bennett tweeted about his excitement after his huge performance. He attributed part of his success to the environment created by seasoned players at Essex, stating, “Playing with such good players (such as Jamie Porter, Simon Harmer and Tom Westley) enables your skills to go up with theirs – and the Chelmsford crowd is the best on the circuit, I reckon. They’ve always got your back and are always loud. I couldn’t ask for more.”
Campher registered a historic achievement in his first innings for Essex after signing on a short-term agreement. His innings, during which he struck 12 fours and six sixes, included a stand of 175 runs with Simon Harmer. The imposing allrounder’s display was even more rewarding considering it was a fitting return to competitive cricket after an eight-week injury layoff.
“It was really nice to get the ball rolling with that. You’re always a bit nervous when you come into a new side and you want to make an impact, but thankfully I was able to do that,” – Curtis Campher.
Campher reflected on his injury and its challenges, stating, “You take the rough with the smooth in cricket. You have to ride the highs and the lows too. It’s great to be out on the park and enjoying it again.”
He wore his passion on his sleeve. In defending his commitment to play more important cricket ahead of 2027’s ODI World Cup qualifiers, he stressed a love for the game. In response, Campher recognized the challenges that come with short-term contracts. He considered himself lucky that Essex had him for three games and Cricket Ireland allowed him to play with permission.
“When you sign short-term deals you never know how they are going to go, but it was very fortunate that Essex were happy for me to come for the three games and that Cricket Ireland allowed me to do it as well,” – Curtis Campher.
Leave a Reply