FORMER Middlesex player Chris Wright scored an unbeaten 71 to steer Essex to a 2-wickets victory against his old county at Chelmsford on Saturday. The 22 year-old featured in an unbroken ninth wicket partnership of 99 runs with the experienced James Middlebrook as the pair completed a remarkable victory for the home side who had looked to be facing defeat earlier in the day.
"It was a very enjoyable innings and you always want to do well against your old club," said hero Wright. It's nice to win any game but to see your new club home against your former team mates is something special. I'm always reasonably confident when I bat and although we were perhaps the underdogs when I came in, Midders (James Middlebrook) and I both agreed that the pressure was on the bowlers to get us out.
"We seemed to hit boundaries just when we needed to and gradually, the target came closer. Middlers batted very well, he's relaxed at the crease and always looks confident.
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"It means a lot to me to play a key part in winning this game for Essex."
Wright arrived in the middle to join Middlebrook with a further 97 runs required but with due application and concentration, they turned the game around making steady inroads as the visitors attack became dispirited.
Although the new ball was taken with the scoreboard showing 234-8 wickets, the pair continued in positive and confident manner eschewing possible demise with judicious shot-selection.
Wright, who arrived at the crease 20 minutes before lunch, contributed 41 of the first 50 runs during the partnership with another 4 emanating from byes as Middlebrook was content to play the supporting but effective role.
A push into the leg side for a single took Wright to a maiden championship half-century and he immediately celebrated by hoisting spinner Shaun Udal into the River Stand for 6.
Middlebrook also took the aerial route to add 6 runs to his personal tally, also off Udal, as Essex became realistic, if unlikely, victors and competed their challenge when, fittingly, Wright sent a delivery from Vernon Philander to the vacant third man boundary.
Earlier in the day, nightwatchman Tony Palladino had become the first of three wickets to fall when he was trapped leg before by Philander for 18 before Varun Chopra, having reached 38, was yorked by Danny Evans.
James Foster contributed 16 in a 35 runs stand for the eighth wicket before he sent a wide long hop into the hands of third man to leave Essex still 97 runs short of their target and with the odds in favour of the visitors.
However, Wright joined Middlebrook to overturn the favourites and seal their second County Championship win of the season as the home side took 18 points from what had been an absorbing match.
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