Flower hits double ton

Andy Flower

Northamptonshire scrambled off bottom spot in Division Two despite former Zimbabwean international Andy Flower making a career best score of 271 not out for Essex.

Flower finished his ten-and-a-half hour marathon unbeaten from 471 balls after resuming the day on 165, leaving the visitors with a first innings score of 620 all out.

Northants opened the day without the words of director of cricket Kepler Wessels for the first time in three-and-a-half years after the South African’s shock decision to quit the County Ground.

Maybe Wessels’ departure had an effect on the Steelbacks’ bowlers as seamer Matt Nicholson started the day by firing down an array of loose deliveries.

Tim Phillips and veteran Flowers resumed for Essex in a match that had been totally dominated by the batsman.

Flowers blossomed in the County Ground sunshine and reached his double century driving David Wigley through the covers for four in the 136th over.

Two overs later he brought up the duo’s 100-run partnership, again off Wigley, with another cover drive for four.

Phillips was making steady progress, amassing six boundaries and was only four short of a half century before he touched Wigley’s delivery into Lance Klusener’s hands at third slip.

The Zimbabwean will forever remember his two runs amassed off Wigley to mid-wicket because his shot saw him surpass his previous career best of 232.

Former Aussie all-rounder Andy Bichel continued to torment the Steelbacks’ attack and marked his fifty by slogging Klusener for six over deep square leg in just 53 balls.

Two runs to third man off part-time bowler Usman Afzaal saw Flowers pass his final milestone of 250, although his innings was cut short after Northants skittled through the Essex tailenders soon after.

The visitors took three wickets in two overs as Bichel’s explosive innings of 74 from 87 deliveries ended when Brown trapped him in the 171st over.

The Aussie’s departure cleared the way for leg spinner Rob White to take two wickets in the 172nd over to end with the figures of 2-57.

Firstly he bowled former England bowler Alex Tudor, before Tony Palladino edged a delivery to skipper David Sales in the slips.

But Flowers came off the pitch unbeaten after his marathon innings for Essex.

Northants opener Bilal Shafayat, who came out with first innings century maker Stephen Peters, edged Ravinder Bopara’s delivery to wicket-keeper James Foster with the score on 39.

However, bad light eventually stopped play soon after, with Peters unbeaten on 26 and the in-form Peters not out on 20.