Foster puts Essex back in running

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 27

Foster puts Essex back in running

NZPA-Reuter London The England paceman, Neil Foster, with career-best match figures of 11 for 157, revived Essex’s bid for the English County Cricket Championship yesterday, but the title-holder, Middlesex, was beaten again. Foster, named for the first test against New Zealand, followed his first innings haul of six for 93 by capturing five for 64 to spearhead Essex’s 91-run win over Worcestershire at Southend.

Foster was effectively supported by the evergreen leftarm fast-medium bowler, John Lever, who took four for 55 as Worcestershire, chasing a target of 250, collapsed from 87 for three to 150 all out

Essex, beaten within two days in each bf its previous two championship matches, is now second in the table with 163 points from 13 games behind Gloucestershire, which has 188 from 15 matches.

Middlesex is still without a victory in its title defence after losing by one wicket to Derbyshire in a gripping finish at Derby. The champion has lost seven and drawn seven of its 14 matches, and is next to bottom.

It was poised for the elusive win when Derbyshire, needing 289, slumped from 210 for four to 231 for eight after a telling burst by the

West Indian-born fast bowlers, Wayne Daniel and Norman Cowans. . » However, the West Indies paceman, Michael Holding, tilted the balance with a vigorous 31 before last pair,-' Alan Warner and Ole Morten-; sen, edged Derbyshire iiorne. ’ At Canterbury: 162 in 63.4 overs and 165, lost-1 to Kent, 157 in 54.4 overs, and 171/2 (C Tavare 90 n.oj.a Kent 21 points, Lancashire sr“ At Leicester: Leicestershire 162 in 65.4 overs, and 301/7 decl., drew with Sussex, 182, in 61.2 overs and 186/3 Alikhan 64 n. 0.). shire and Sussex, 5 each. At Derby: Middlesex 142 iff' 46.3 overs, and 323 (O. MorE” tensen 4/85, M. Holding 4/ a 86), lost to Derbyshire, 177 in'66.5 overs, and 290/9 (B.' Roberts 55, W. Daniel 4/89). Derbyshire 21, Middlesex 4. At Southend: Essex 370/5* decl. in 97 overs, and 202 (G? Gooch 79, P. Newport 4/42).. beat Worcestershire, 323 in 92.3 overs and 158 (N. Foster--5/64, J. Lever 4/55). 24, Worcestershire 6. At Swansea: Northamptonshire 489/6 decl. in 106 s overs and 114/1 decl. (R.' Bailey 74 n. 0., W. Larkins 40» n. 0.), Glamorgan 340/6 decl. in 144 overs (R. Ontong 80,; n. 0.) and 196/9 (H. Morris 88,', J. Steele 41 n. 0., N. Mallender 4/30, R. Harper 4/39); Northamptonshire 5, Glamor-’’ gan 4.