ANOTHER GAME TO REMEMBER...

I`ve got quite a few cricket books on my shelves which reflects the fact that cricket is yet another of the passions in my life.   One of them is called `Cricket`s Strangest Matches` - a compendium of the most unusual matches played in the history of the game.   And over the last weekend I became aware of another game that took place last Friday which would surely find a place in any updated edition of that book.

Essex`s South African import,  Cameron Delport, smashed an astonishing 129 from only 49 balls as Essex crushed Surrey by 52 runs in their Vitality Blast battle at Chelmsford, a game that had been reduced to fifteen overs per side because of a rain delay.

It was carnage that had the crowd repeatedly taking evasive action as a torrent of sixes rained down upon them.  In all, Delport cleared the ropes on fourteen occasions while recording the fastest century in the competition by an Essex player.   He reached three figures from only 38 deliveries but was not the only one that had the spectators ducking for cover as Essex ran up a remarkable 226 for 4 in their allotted 15 overs.

Dan Lawrence joined in the big-hitting spectacular with an unbeaten 57 from 22 balls that included six sixes and two fours. He reached his half-century from just 17 deliveries whilst creating another slice of Essex history.   It was the fastest 50 for the county in the competition and with Delport, he added 135 in only seven overs.

Delport walked off to a standing ovation after being caught on the long-on boundary off Jade Dernbach, the only Surrey bowler who emerged with decent figures. His permitted three overs went for only 21 while in complete contrast, Tom Curran conceded 63, being hit for six sixes and five fours in his three overs - 21 off each of them.

I don`t know - mainly because of the paucity of media coverage that this game produced - but I can imagine thatTom Curran`s reaction to the onslaught he received might well have mirrored that of David Duval, "Well, that`s the way it goes.  Worse things happen to people every day."

Oh, the illustration about trying harder?  Well, the press and other sporting media really should have picked up on this extraordinary game and given it the attention it deserved.