Vitality Blast: Das delighted to help Essex win opener

The 21-year-old batter struck a century on his first-class debut against Ireland on Friday before crashing a stylish 69 to help Essex towards a daunting 196 target.

That huge Gloucestershire score was in large part down to Ben Charlesworth’s brutal 19-ball fifty – the quickest for the county in T20s.

But Das, together with fellow homegrown Feroze Khushi’s 34 off 12 balls and Tom Westley’s street-wise 31 not out guided Essex to victory with five balls to spare.

“It was good to start the campaign with a win and a good performance all round,” said Das.

“We were good with the ball to restrict them under 200 and it was a pretty comfortable chase in the end as well.

“There is a lot of scope for things to go better but I guess I’ve had worse weeks! I am really happy with how the week has gone and hopefully can keep the ball rolling and keep the momentum going.

“I want to be involved in every game but we have such a talented and deep squad that you can’t expect to play every game. I’m always hungry to play and contribute to the team.

“It is very pleasing to contribute with Feroze. I have played with him since club cricket at the aged of 13 or 14.

“It is nice to play with those players you grew up with and shows a really strength to our club; players coming through the pathways and into the first team.”

Essex and Gloucestershire hadn’t bowled a ball at each other at the Cloud County Ground, Chelmsford since 2016 – following an incredible five washouts – and the hosts had also delayed the start of their Blast season due to the Ireland clash.

Grant Roelofson, who played for the Eagles in 2022, and Chris Dent got Gloucestershire off to a strong start in the powerplay – reaching 61-1 – but the former feathering an edge behind saw them stall.

Miles Hammond and Dent fell in the next two overs, with Ollie Price bowled soon after, leaving the visitors 80-4 just past the halfway point.

But after an unspectacular start, where he was dropped on 13 and had 20 off his first 13 balls, Charlesworth went into hyperdrive.

He took Matt Critchley for two consecutive sixes on the leg side before tearing into Sam Cook as two fours through mid-on were followed by two maximums over deep square – one on the back foot, the other flicked off the front.

It took him to his incredible half-century, only 92 T20 fifties have been quicker. Cook had the last laugh by finding his edge next ball.

James Bracey heaved his first ball for six – which made it 47 runs in 12 balls for Gloucestershire – but next ball he picked out long off, with Jack Taylor coming and going in the same Daniel Sams over.

If Essex thought the onslaught had ended with Charlesworth, Marchant de Lange got their necks craning again by helping himself to 18 off the penultimate over – including a run of four, six, six.

Danny Lamb, who arrived on a short-term loan from Lancashire before the match, crashed a four and a six off the last over to take Gloucestershire to an imposing, but not out of sight, 195-7.

Fast bowler De Lange had Adam Rossington caught at deep midwicket with his third ball but pulled out of his delivery stride before bowling another ball before walking out of proceedings.

Khushi had already pinged de Lange back over his head before repeating the trick twice off Tom Smith’s spin. But he fell to a stunning catch at short third as Essex blasted 72-2 in the powerplay.

Das showed his classy shot-making against Ireland but proved his outright power for a small man with 11 fours and sixes straight and over midwicket.

A maiden T20 fifty came in 27 balls, having been dropped on 38, and he may not have even played had Michael Pepper not suffered a knock in a Second XI match.

The Eagles were well ahead of the rate but were pegged back when Critchley slogged to long on and Das top-edged a slog sweep.

Walter was bowled by Price, Sams chopped to short fine, Simon Harmer clubbed to long on, but Westley eased to the conclusion to condemn Gloucestershire to a third defeat in four.

Essex visit Sussex on Thursday (7pm).