Watch: Hassan Ali snared the prized wicket of ex-England Test captain Alastair Cook as the County Championship resumed today (June 25), snaking a jaffa past his outside edge and finding a nick through to the keeper.
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Essex found the going tough early on in their home fixture against Warwickshire. Feroze Khushi, Cook’s opening partner, had already been dismissed by Chris Rushworth for four, bringing Division One’s leading run scorer Tom Westley to the crease. Cook had scored nine off the first 17 balls he had faced, taking Essex to 20-1.
Hassan has taken 23 wickets in six games in this year’s Championship, and continued his fine form against Cook. He bowled a full delivery, angled in at the left-hander from around the wicket which Cook shouldered arms to. However, the ball just glanced the outside edge of his bat, taking the tiniest deflection through to Michael Burgess behind the stumps.
Cook immediately walked off the field as the Warwickshire fielders celebrated their second scalp within the first six overs of the game. Dan Lawrence was the next man into face up to Hassan, Cook’s wicket being Hassan’s 24th in this year’s competition.
Lawrence and Westley somewhat steadied the ship for Essex, their partnership took the side past 50 for no further loss. Warwickshire currently sit second in the Division One table, while Essex are in fourth position.
