Credit: Twitter
The County Championship game between Essex and Middlesex was decided by an odd catch made on the game's final ball. Needing one wicket to win with just seven minutes left of the extra half-hour, at the end of the third day's play at Chelmsford, the match seemed to be ending in a draw, but Adam Rossington and Nicke Browne combined to take a stunning catch to earn a 297-run win.
Essex spinner Simon Harmer bowled a short ball to Middlesex captain Toby Roland Jones, who firmly pulled it towards the short-leg fielder. With five men rounding the bat, Middlesex's captain Toby Roland-Jones rocked back on a pull through a Harmer short ball, but Nick Browne stood strong as the ball deflected off his knee, and wicketkeeper Adma Rosington reacted swiftly to take a stunning one-handed diving catch to his left.
The Essex players erupted in celebration as the umpires confirmed that the catch was legal and awarded Essex the win. The County Championship shared the video on their Twitter account with a caption, "A very strange way for @EssexCricket to win!"
Watch the video here:
Talking about the game, Indian pacer Umesh Yadav had an impressive debut, picking up three wickets in the second innings. Harmer spun a web around the Middlesex batsmen, picking up 5 for 43 in the second inning.
In the batting department, the reliable Alastair Cook once again came into his own, scoring fifties in both innings, with his opening partner Nicke Browne providing able support. The Middlesex tailenders held on and gave them some hope for a draw, but it was crushed by Matt Critchley and Harmer.
