In arguably their finest hour of determination, Tom Westley and Michael Pepper showed true grit in forging an incredible sixth-wicket stand. It was their rescue act that saved Essex from losing to Hampshire in their last County Championship game. In doing so, the duo scored 215 runs together without losing their wicket, infuriating Hampshire along the way. In the process their performance prevented Essex from crashing to their third straight defeat of the season. Essex took on a massive bootstrapped task in their second innings. That dramatic exchange happened on the last day of the tournament.
Essex began the day requiring 49 more runs to guarantee that Hampshire would be forced to bat again. The squad still had seven wickets in hand. They were now faced with a key decision point – try to play aggressively for a risky draw, or lose to Hampshire’s impressive bowling arsenal. In the backfield, early on, Charlie Allison gave way to the unflagging pressure of Liam Dawson. Dawson took full advantage, taking his fourth wicket as he caught Allison at short midwicket. Hampshire refused to let up on the match. Dawson again rose to the occasion, taking two further early wickets and finishing with stunning figures of 4 for 82 from a punishing 41-over spell.
Michael Pepper had a hard time coming across home plate all summer long. He was key in holding the innings together against Westley’s onslaught. Their partnership didn’t frustrate Hampshire’s bowlers, it changed the course of the match. Wesley demonstrated astonishing patience at the wicket. He was given the remarkable task of bowling all but 12 of the 119 overs that Essex batted in their second innings. The pair took an additional 13 overs to surpass the three-figure mark, showcasing their determination and skill under pressure.
After they settled into a rhythm, Pepper scored his second century of the season. He ended on a high with an unbeaten 130 off 322 deliveries, which included 12 fours. His performance was all the more impressive considering how recently he went through a full-blown crisis of form. The partnership blossomed as both batsmen put on a partnership of 108 runs. Funnily enough, Pepper reached this figure in 152 fewer balls than Westley.
This partnership came on the heels of another show-stopping performance by Pepper last month. He provided another key contribution with the bat, partnering with Matt Critchley to keep Essex’s hopes of survival with an exciting draw against Yorkshire. That innings set off a firestorm in Pepper. Having had such a sore season, he came back to form in fine style with a blistering near century against Hampshire.
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