By Dave Buxton
April 17 2003

Essex had an excellent day to start off the new season at Fenner's, by amassing no fewer than 497-6 inside 94 overs. Will Jefferson scored more runs, 125, before retiring and Andy Flower and Darren Robinson also came close to recording day 1 tons. The students of Cambridge were 31-1 at the close.

CAMBRIDGE UCCE VS ESSEX - Day 1 Report

COMPETITION: UCCE Match

DATE: Sat 12th-Mon 14th April, 2003

VENUE: Fenner's, Cambridge

STATE OF PLAY: After day 1, Cambridge UCCE trail by 466 with 9 1st innings wickets in hand

Essex travelled to Fenner's to face Cambridge UCCE in the traditional season curtain raiser university 3-day match. From the squad of 12 selected, predictably, Andy Clarke was the man left out.

Ronnie won the toss and decided to bat first on a nice spring day. He was rewarded with Darren Robinson and Will Jefferson smashing 240 for the 1st wicket in no time, against an attack containing three Essex and Wanstead youngsters, Tony Palladino and the two Akram twins, Arfan and Adnan. All three are playing thanks to a scholarship in partnership with the Essex Academy, which provides young promising cricketers with a chance to play first-class games and benefiting both them and the county.

Robinson scored 89 (95 balls) before one of those youngsters, Adnan Akram, had Robbo caught behind by Kumar.

Jefferson went onto another brilliant ton, 125 from 122 balls with 21 fours, before retiring to give others practice with the score 243-1.

Paul Grayson then was joined at the crease by Andy Flower and the pair added 61, although Larry made just 11 of those. The Essex vice-captain is out of form at present and will look to get this right in the second innings. He also went to Adnan Akram, facing 46 balls for his 11.

Aftab Habib added 91 with Flower, before he fell for 37 and another case of getting himself in but unfortunately falling short of the big score, 395-3.

Andy Flower fell 5 runs later for his 126 ball 91 and was out with Essex 400 exactly for 4.

Ronnie Irani and James Foster then hit a quickfire stand of 84 for the 5th wicket, with Ronnie hitting 45 including 3 sixes and Fossy 41. Both fell within 13 runs of eachother and with Jon Dakin unbeaten on 8, Essex declared on a massive 497-6 off only 93.5 overs. Adnan Akram had an excellent first-class debut with 20-1-85-2 while Palladino found the step-up a little tough, going for 110 off 19 overs.

New boy Scott Brant and Jon Dakin opened up as Essex entered the field and there was time in the day for 12 overs, in which the hosts made 31-1, with Dakin taking the wicket of Heath caught by Foster at the wicket.

So, a good day's practice and the chance to push for more tomorrow and a win.

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Date: 12/4/03

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