Chatterji Pulls Surrey Back From Brink to Halt Essex

Chatterji’s Impact with Ball Essex won the toss and batted. Priyanaz Chatterji opened the bowling for Surrey and struck early, removing both Essex openers within the first 5 overs. Surrey’s attack kept Essex to 135 all out in 41.1 overs. Chatterji’s early wickets set the tone as Essex slumped to 29/3. Charlotte Lambert 3/20, Claudie Cooper 3/25 and Dani Gregory 2/19 backed her up. The hosts looked out of it when, despite 49 from Alice Monaghan, they slumped to 150 for 7 in pursuit of 228 to win, but Scottish international Chatterji made an unbeaten 38 off 39 balls, sharing an eighth wicket stand of 79 off 68 balls with Aylish Cranstone (31 not out) as the hosts got home by three wickets with 47 balls to spare. Chasing 136, Surrey wobbled badly. They lost early wickets: Chloe Brewer and Kira Chathli fell inside 5 overs, then Maddie Blinkhorn-Jones 22, and Rhianna Southby 30 left Surrey 68/4. Chatterji came in and steadied the chase, part of a “strong 7th wicket partnership” that secured the win. Surrey closed it out 4 wickets down, moving to 3 wins from 3 in the London Championship. Maitlan Brown gave Surrey a dream start, striking with the first ball of the game, Essex skipper Grace Scrivens bowled off the inside edge, her third duck of the competition. Brown should have a second wicket in her next over when Dowse was spilt at slip by Bryony Smith, a drop which would prove costly. In a Vitality Blast game, Chatterji also took 2/12 vs Essex, including the key wicket of Lauren Winfield-Hill for 48 to dent Essex’s chase. Essex needed 2 off the last ball but were run out for a tie. Bottom line: Priyanaz Chatterji was the difference – early wickets to derail Essex’s innings, then composure with the bat to rescue Surrey from 68/4 and end Essex’s winning run in the London Championship. Monaghan and Brown, the latter promoted to No.5 due to England absences both employed the straight drive to good effect, but the mid-innings drinks break did the trick for Essex with the latter hooking one from Kate Coppack down the throat of Smale at long leg third ball after the resumption. Surrey 229 for 7 (Monaghan 49, Chatterji 37*) beat Essex 227 (Miller 74*, Dowse 69, Gregory 3-51) by three wickets