Bopara back in a mix

Ravi Bopara: All rounder enjoyed mixed fortunes on his return to action

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Ravi Bopara managed just a solitary run before starring with the ball as Essex cruised to victory over Holland by 117 runs in the Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A clash at Colchester.

The all-rounder lasted just 11 balls before he was caught by wicketkeeper Wesley Barresi, but then took three wickets for the loss of 19 runs to ensure a comfortable victory for the hosts.

It was his first match in a month after he missed the second Test at Headingley and an England Lions match for personal reasons, but it threatened to be one to forget after a loose stroke outside the off stump ended with Barresi taking a fine catch from the faintest of edges off Mudassar Bukhari.

But his team-mates were to enjoy a better day with the bat, half-centuries at better than a run a ball from Tom Westley, Ryan ten Doeschate and James Foster lifting Essex to a total of 314-8.

Smashed

Westley smashed nine fours and a six while making 59 from 40 balls, ten Doeschate made 52 from 46, whilst captain Foster's figures were 79 from only 48 deliveries.

Bopara's day was to improve as with the considerable assistance of Harbhajan Singh they skittled the Dutch for 197.

Holland managed to get off to a fine start and the first 50 was raised in the sixth over thanks to Stephan Myburgh, whose quickfire 33 included three sixes before he was caught in the deep attacking veteran spinner Harbhajan.

That was followed by a partnership of 69 in a dozen overs between Michael Swart and Tom Cooper before the latter also became a victim of Harbhajan, trapped lbw for 35.

Swart's commendable effort came to an end shortly afterwards. Immediately after completing his half-century from 51 balls, he departed lbw to Bopara and following his dismissal, the visitors never threatened to find the acceleration needed to pose any sort of threat.

Harbhajan went on to emerge with figures of 5-37 from six overs while Bopara picked up 3-19 from 6.2 overs as Essex recorded their third successive win in the competition and avenged their five-wicket defeat earlier in the season in Holland.

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