Player of the Match
Player of the Match

Match Centre

Commentator: Andrew Miller (@miller_cricket)

END OF OVER:
20 | 14 Runs | ESSEX: 144/6 (2 runs required, RR: 7.20)

  • Simon Harmer18 (7b)
  • Ravi Bopara36 (22b)
  • Wayne Parnell4-0-34-2
  • Pat Brown4-0-28-1

"WOO-HOO," says a burst of Blur through the PA... Essex Eagles are the Vitality Blast Champions! Ravi Bopara lifts the trophy alongside Harmer... what a win!

And that is your lot from Edgbaston. Absolute scenes all round in a ridiculous summer of entertainment. Matt Roller and Paul Edwards are all over the coverage from the ground, and David Hopps is bashing out his report, but from Alan and myself, good night and see you in Taunton on Monday for the next big finish to this endlessly bonkers summer!

Zain Munawari: "This has been most entertaining English summer. First, epic world cup final, followed by thrilling Ashes test series, especially Headingley test match and now this T20 final. Can't ask for better than this. A complete package."

9.56pm Now here's Harmer to talk us through the win... they won two of ten in the first rounds..." Four rained-off games, a lot of people wrote us off, but here we stand, that little club in the south-east now has the chance to win the double."

"We are always told we are a small club and we can't do this, but the mentality has to change, we won the championship in 2017 after coming up from division two, and it's time for people to change their perceptions of Essex CCC."

"Ravi was instrumental for us after missing a few games, Dan Lawrence, Ryan Ten Doeschate... when one fails the other picks up the mess. The team culture gets us over the line."

"It felt like I was playing at Chelmsford with a lot of turn on offer, but credit to Worcester for almost going back to back... there wasn't as much dew as I was expecting, but we managed to get over the line."

And on the Championship finale against Somerset next week. "I'm sure it will turn round corners because the weather might play a part and they'll want to get it done in two days..." Bring it on, he roars!

9.50pm Right, time for some champagne-spraying. Here come the presentations. Simon Harmer, obviously, is the Man of the Match.

But first, here's Moeen to make sense of the loss.."We showed great fight, it was a great game and a great spectacle. We were close to winning the game, but as long as Ravi was in I thought they were going to win it."

"We bowled really well but I felt Essex really deserved to win tonight. But it's great for the team to go through [close finishes like] that. We have a great core of players in our side who are matchwinners. No superstars, we just get on with it, but in the final we couldn't get on with it."

"I'm going on holiday in a couple of days, but hopefully get back to playing well for England and Worcestershire soon."

9.45pm So, the podium is in place, and Essex's trophy-cabinet is full at last. They could yet make it a double at Taunton next week, if Harmer and his cohorts can conquer Ciderabad.... and if anyone can, he can!

9.37pm Ravi and Tendo ... five-times finals-day visitors. "This means everything, it's the one trophy both of us don't have in our cabinet," Bopara tells Isa Guha on Sky. Scenes!

"A very, very proud moment," adds Tendo.

"In that Parnell over, I said I don't care if we only get six, you have a go here, I'll get the next over, and try to finish it in the 19th," says Bopara. It didn't quite work out like that, but the cogs were whirring!

9.35pm Handshakes all round ... no repeat triumph for Worcestershire, though they couldn't have taken their defence deeper. And what a moment for Ravi Bopara! 36 not out from 22, but largely a spectator at the death ... Simon Harmer, for the win!

19.6
4
Parnell to Harmer, FOUR, square-driven through point, and the Eagles are soaring! Off go the fireworks! A despairing dive ... but there's no cutting that off! Harmer the hero with the ball and now the bat! What utter nonsensical scenes we have been treated to this summer!

A ring of fielders

Two from one to win the final... we've heard that before this summer to end all summers... though it's actually one as Essex have lost fewer wickets... Parnell looks distraught, but he saved the day in the semi too ... and he's taking an age to compose himself ...

19.5
4
Parnell to Harmer, FOUR, panned as straight as you like! Back over the bowler's head, utterly nailed it!

Parnell's taking a breather as well he might...

19.4
2
Parnell to Harmer, 2 runs, banged in short, flinched in front of square and it's up to Parnell to chase it! Oodles of time to come back for the second...

Zoinks

19.3
2
Parnell to Harmer, 2 runs, slow again, pulled hard to the leg side, they rush back for the second as the fielder has a long chase round the rope...

Abhijato: "BMT? Mo. Nails? Gone. Cricket? Perennially Awesome."

19.2
1
Parnell to Bopara, 1 run, banged in short, clawed across the line, Bopara thumps his pad in frustration as he settles for the single
19.1
1
Parnell to Harmer, 1 run, punched down the ground, Harmer's off the strike straightaway...

Essex 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st9T WestleyCS Delport
2nd38T WestleyAJA Wheater
3rd18T WestleyDW Lawrence
4th10RN ten DoeschateDW Lawrence
5th7RS BoparaDW Lawrence
6th47RS BoparaPI Walter
7th19RS BoparaSR Harmer