RAVI Bopara is not a man to die wondering – and he came within a whisker of rescuing a much-needed victory for Essex last weekend in the Blast.

VITALITY BLAST: SOUTH GROUP REVIEW
By Charlie Talbot-Smith

Blast off! Ravi Bopara hit his best Blast score of the season for Essex but says there is more to come
PICTURES: Getty Images

The Eagles, chasing 171 to win against Hampshire, needed two runs off the last ball but Bopara was beaten by Colin Munro’s throw from square leg – although it took the TV umpire to confirm it.
That it ended in a dramatic tie was probably a fair...