Chambers hungry for more finals

Maurice Chambers' five-for secures Essex's chance at a third trophy in 12 months

Maurice Chambers guided Essex into their third final in 12 months, this time against Middlesex in the Pro ARCH Trophy in Abu Dhabi.

The Jamaica-born seamer took 5-42 to help dismiss Sussex for 239, chasing 286 for victory after another spectacular innings from Ryan ten Doeschate.

“Last year we were in two finals (Friends Provident Trophy and Twenty20 Cup) and then we come out here and we are in another final,” Chambers said. “It can't get any better than that.”

Chambers was on a hat-trick after dismissing captain Mike Yardy and Robin Martin-Jenkins in successive balls at the end of an over.

But Essex skipper Mark Pettini decided to rest his fast bowler at the end of that spell and did not bring him back for another half an hour.

“He just said 'hold it there mate, I know you are on a hat-trick, but just hold it there',” Chambers said.

“It kind of got me out of my rhythm a little bit and I was a bit more eager if he had brought me back on straight away. But I'd calmed down a little bit by then.”

Nevertheless, Chambers was pleased with his evening's work and for the way the tournament has panned out for him as a whole.

“In my last game at Sharjah I got three-for and I just came here today and continued where I left off,” he said.

“This tour was really good last year so we decided why not do it again this year. It's top-drawer.”

Essex's 286 always looked like a match-winning score after the early loss of Ed Joyce and Carl Hopkinson, and Chambers admitted they were confident of forcing the victory.

“We got into a little circle at half-time and had a little chat,” he said. “We knew our game plan and knew exactly what we were going to do out there, and we just went out there and did that.

“The captain asked me to do one job and I did that today, so I am very pleased.”

Essex play Middlesex at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium on Wednesday.