1
0
0
1
1
2
= 5
Match Details
ESS vs HAM, 97th T20, T20 Blast 2026 summary
ESS
134-3(16.0)
Essex won by 7 wickets 🏆
HAM
(15.5)130-10
+
P'ship : 41(20)
Commentary
All
Highlights
Overs
W
6s
4s
Inn 1
Inn 2
Milestone
A comprehensive victory for Essex as they defeat Hampshire by seven wickets, keeping their season alive with a dominant performance here in Chelmsford.
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off alongside my scorer, Paras Yadav. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
For now, this is Pritam Dey signing off alongside my scorer, Paras Yadav. Stay tuned for more cricketing action from around the world. BYE BYE👋
1:54 AM IST & 9:24 PM Local Time: That's the end of the contest! A dominant all-round performance from Essex as they thump Hampshire by seven wickets here in Chelmsford and with four overs to spare.
Earlier in the day, Essex won the toss and elected to field first, with Shane Snater making an immediate impact by removing both Hampshire openers in successive overs. Toby Albert provided early impetus with a brisk 20 off 13 balls, while Joe Weatherley steadied the innings to guide Hampshire to 61/2 at the end of the Powerplay. However, the innings unravelled soon after as Matthew Critchley struck twice in his first over, dismissing Ben Mayes and Hilton Cartwright. Weatherley then fell for 34, leaving Hampshire reeling at 93/5.
Simon Harmer marshalled his bowlers brilliantly throughout the innings. Snater returned to remove Tristan Stubbs for just 2, while James Fuller briefly counterattacked with 19 before Harmer accounted for him. Essex continued to strike at regular intervals, bundling Hampshire out for 130 in 15.5 overs after a dramatic collapse following the Powerplay. Matt Critchley was the standout performer with outstanding figures of 4/16.
In reply, Essex made a confident start to the chase. Openers Paul Walter and Michael-Kyle Pepper laid a solid platform, taking full advantage of the field restrictions. Pepper played an aggressive hand before falling to Sonny Baker for 34 in the sixth over. At the end of the Powerplay, Essex were comfortably placed at 47/1, requiring another 84 runs from 84 balls.
Essex never allowed the chase to drift after the Powerplay. Walter and Critchley put together an excellent unbeaten partnership off 41 runs that completely took the game away from Hampshire. Walter made the visitors pay for a dropped chance, bringing up a composed half-century off 35 balls before finishing unbeaten on 52. Critchley provided the perfect support with an unbeaten 27 as Essex cruised to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory with four overs to spare.
Earlier in the day, Essex won the toss and elected to field first, with Shane Snater making an immediate impact by removing both Hampshire openers in successive overs. Toby Albert provided early impetus with a brisk 20 off 13 balls, while Joe Weatherley steadied the innings to guide Hampshire to 61/2 at the end of the Powerplay. However, the innings unravelled soon after as Matthew Critchley struck twice in his first over, dismissing Ben Mayes and Hilton Cartwright. Weatherley then fell for 34, leaving Hampshire reeling at 93/5.
Simon Harmer marshalled his bowlers brilliantly throughout the innings. Snater returned to remove Tristan Stubbs for just 2, while James Fuller briefly counterattacked with 19 before Harmer accounted for him. Essex continued to strike at regular intervals, bundling Hampshire out for 130 in 15.5 overs after a dramatic collapse following the Powerplay. Matt Critchley was the standout performer with outstanding figures of 4/16.
In reply, Essex made a confident start to the chase. Openers Paul Walter and Michael-Kyle Pepper laid a solid platform, taking full advantage of the field restrictions. Pepper played an aggressive hand before falling to Sonny Baker for 34 in the sixth over. At the end of the Powerplay, Essex were comfortably placed at 47/1, requiring another 84 runs from 84 balls.
Essex never allowed the chase to drift after the Powerplay. Walter and Critchley put together an excellent unbeaten partnership off 41 runs that completely took the game away from Hampshire. Walter made the visitors pay for a dropped chance, bringing up a composed half-century off 35 balls before finishing unbeaten on 52. Critchley provided the perfect support with an unbeaten 27 as Essex cruised to a comprehensive seven-wicket victory with four overs to spare.
OVER 16
Essex
134/3
Matthew Critchley
27(13)
Paul Walter
52(37)
James Fuller
0-22(2.0)
15.6 James Fuller to Matthew Critchley
4 FOUR RUNS! Caressed through the covers. Critchley hits the winning runs for Essex. Full around fifth stump. Critchley presses forward and drives it through the covers for a boundary. Essex win by 7 wickets!
15.5 James Fuller to Paul Walter
1lb Length ball at the pads. Walter misses the flick as the ball deflects off his front pad to backward square leg for a leg bye single.
15.4 James Fuller to Matthew Critchley
1 Full around middle and leg. Critchley looks to flick it away on the onside, gets an inside edge onto his front pad which deflects to the right of the keeper for a single.
15.3 James Fuller to Matthew Critchley
2 Banged it short into the wicket around leg, slower ball. Critchley controls the pull shot to the right of deep backward square leg for a brace.
15.2 James Fuller to Matthew Critchley
4 FOUR RUNS! It's all going in favour of Matt Critchley. Full around fifth stump. Critchley looks to smash it down the ground, gets a thick outside edge which runs down to the third man fence for a boundary.
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