Essex sealed a commanding innings victory over Nottinghamshire in the Vitality County Championship, defeating them by an innings and 83 runs before lunch on the final day. Simon Harmer, the South African off-spinner, took his second four-wicket haul of the match, finishing with 4 for 93.
Nottinghamshire’s batting lineup crumbled for the second time in the match, with Harmer leading the charge. The visitors, who had started the day at 180 for 2 and still needed 184 runs to avoid making Essex bat again, lost all eight of their remaining wickets in just 38 overs. They managed to add only 101 more runs in an extended morning session, having earlier conceded a massive first-innings deficit of 364 after being bowled out for a paltry 93.
Harmer, supported by Sam Cook and Paul Walter, who each claimed two wickets, was instrumental in Nottinghamshire's fourth defeat of the season, keeping them in the relegation zone.
Essex, needing to take eight wickets on the final day to secure their first win in five matches, struck early. Cook dismissed the two overnight batters, Haseeb Hameed and Joe Clarke, within the first 20 minutes of play, breaking their 137-run partnership for the third wicket. Hameed, who added just five runs to his overnight score, was trapped lbw for 105 after facing 166 balls. Clarke soon followed, chasing a ball outside the off-stump, allowing Harmer to take a sharp catch at second slip.
Nottinghamshire briefly resisted through Jack Haynes and Kyle Verreynne, who batted cautiously for about 12 overs, scoring at two runs an over. However, Walter soon removed both batsmen in quick succession. Haynes, after a slow eight from 48 balls, was caught off a leading edge by the bowler himself, and Lyndon James fell shortly after to a stunning diving catch by Shane Snater at cover.
The new ball brought more trouble for Nottinghamshire. Liam Patterson-White was dismissed slashing at Jamie Porter’s third delivery, with Michael Pepper taking a well-judged catch in front of first slip. Harmer, returning with the six-over-old Kookaburra, removed Rob Lord in just his fourth delivery, followed by Luke Fletcher, who was bowled for a three-ball duck.
With Nottinghamshire down to their last wicket, Essex opted for an extra half-hour, but Verreynne held firm with an unbeaten 38. Sixteen-year-old Farhan Ahmed, gaining valuable experience, edged behind off Snater’s second ball in the seventh extra over, ending Nottinghamshire's innings and handing Essex a comprehensive victory.
Brief scores:
Essex 457
Nottinghamshire 93 (Jamie Porter 5-35, Simon Harmer 4-16) and 281 (Haseeb Hameed 105, Simon Harmer 4-93)
Essex won by an innings and 83 runs.