Matthew Montgomery made his maiden first-class century against Durham last SeptemberLV= County Championship Division One, Trent Bridge (day two)Essex 298: Cook 72, Westley 66; Hutton 4-69, Paterson 3-48, Broad 3-53 Nottinghamshire 326-5: Montgomery 130*, Clarke 57, Slater 57; S Cook 3-51Nottinghamshire (5 pts) lead Essex (2 pts) by 28 with five wickets standingMatch scorecard
Matt Montgomery demonstrated his readiness to fill Ben Duckett’s place in the Nottinghamshire line-up this summer with an unbeaten 130 to help his side edge into a first-innings lead in their County Championship match against Essex.
The 23-year-old has been earmarked to cover for Duckett’s involvement in the Ashes series and though he survived a couple of scares early in his innings, ultimately he looked up to the job.
There were half-centuries also for Ben Slater and Joe Clarke and on a tough day for the Essex bowlers, Sam Cook was the pick with 3-51.
At the close of day two at Trent Bridge, Nottinghamshire were 326-5 in reply to Essex’s 298 all out, giving them a lead of 28 as they chase a third win since returning to Division One.
Nottinghamshire were in control much of the day, having emerged from a challenging opening session with only one wicket lost when Cook induced an edge to dismiss Haseeb Hameed for 13 via a routine catch to first slip.
Essex had cause to regret not making the most of such help as they had from the pitch while the ball was still new, letting both Montgomery and Slater off the hook before lunch.
Montgomery was put down by wicketkeeper Adam Rossington on four off Shane Snater, having had some fortune before he had scored a run when Rossington failed to reach a chance created by the same bowler.
Slater’s escape came after Jamie Porter had returned for his second spell of the morning.
The Nottinghamshire batter, back in his familiar opener’s slot with England’s Duckett rested, had just completed his first half-century of the season when he edged to first slip.
It should have…
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