Date-stamped : 25 Apr95 - 22:38
Benson and Hedges Round 2: Essex v Middlesex  
Chelmsford, 25 April 1995

Gatting rises to opening challenge - Paul Newman

Middlesex (228-3) bt Essex (225-8) by 7 wkts

MIKE GATTING, with his England career now behind him  but  a  new
challenge  as  an  opening batsman to relish, eased Middlesex to-
wards the Benson and Hedges Cup quarter-finals by  overseeing   a
comprehensive  victory against a county in a similar state of re-
building.

There is a symmetry in the situations facing southern rivals who,
between  them,  had  won the championship 11 times in the last 16
years. Both have lost key players and both  have  a poor   recent
one-day record, but only one side took steps yesterday to rectify
their imbalance between first-class and limited-overs returns.

Middlesex, with two big batting holes to plug after  losing  both
Desmond  Haynes and Michael Roseberry, appear in a ruder state of
health than Essex. Gatting has stepped into  his  new role   with
aplomb, starting circumspectly as Middlesex set off in pursuit of
an average Essex total but easing through the gears  in   company
with a willing accomplice in Paul Weekes.

The pair came together with Middlesex on 61 for three  and  Essex
still  in  the hunt. They never looked like being separated in an
unbroken stand of  167,  a  Middlesex fourth-wicket   competition
record, which sentenced Essex to their second consecutive Cup de-
feat and the likelihood of an early exit.

Gatting was the model of a modern opener, scoring  just  17  runs
off  his  first 50 balls but 54 off his next 50 and finished just
seven short of his century. Equally of note, though, was the  ma-
turity  of  Weekes,  who  took  the Gold Award for his 67 and two
prime wickets in an Essex innings that promised more than it  ul-
timately delivered.

Those two Weekes victims were Paul Prichard and  Nasser  Hussain,
who  both made impressive half-centuries without receiving suffi-
cient support. There was consolation for Essex, however,  in  the
performance  of Darren Robinson, 22, who was given his chance be-
cause of the winter middle-order Essex exodus. He gave notice  of
his  ability by hitting 21 off the last over, bowled by no less a
figure than Angus Fraser.

If Robinson is a player for Essex`s future,  one  who  will  soon
figure  in their past is wicketkeeper Mike Garnham, who yesterday
announced his intention to retire at the end  of  the season   to
give the talented Robert Rollins his chance. There could be a re-
turn, however, for Keith Fletcher who  watched yesterday`s   game
after  having talks with Essex last week about a managerial role.
His experience may be needed in these transitional times for  the
county.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk)
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