Date-stamped : 23 Jul96 - 22:18 AXA Equity & Law League Essex v Nottinghamshire Chelmsford 21 July 1996 ====> REPORT Notts (222-5) bt Essex (219-9) by 5 wkts A TYPICALLY withering assault from Chris Cairns, whose undefeated 66 from 47 balls took his Sunday average this year to 62.2, kept Nottinghamshire in touch with the leaders in a league so tight that half the counties still retain title hopes. With his side at 157 for five on a surprisingly green Chelms- ford pitch which provided bounce and movement throughout, he en- sured 63 runs came from the final 6.5 overs after the asking rate had apparently become too severe. Needing 22 from the last 12 balls, Cairns took 17 from five Mark Ilott deliveries and effectively sealed the match. Only Jon Lewis, in a splendid innings of impeccable timing and place- ment, was able to emulate Cairns in conditions which claimed all other batsmen as soon as they accelerated. Mark Bowen, setting Essex back with three wickets in his first 22 balls en route to career-best one-day figures, exploited things best but Essex significantly lacked Nasser Hussain, not prepared to test his injured index finger further after painful pre-match nets. Source :: Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk) Contributed by Shash (shs2@*.cwru.edu)