Tom Westley fell first, beaten by some late movement to offer wicket-keeper Ben Scott his first of five victims, before Grant Flower edged to slip.

BBC: Murtagh puts Essex to the sword

Participants also ward off evil during the festival by bathing in flower-scented water, wearing five-colour silk, hanging plants such as moxa and calamus over their doors, and pasting paper cut-outs in their windows.

UNESCO: Culture

But opening a series of glossy gastropubs and flower markets doesn't change the fact that three of the five official Olympic boroughs (Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets) are among Britain's poorest districts -- a fact which became painfully clear during last summer's riots.

CNN: Why gritty East End is London's gold standard

Flower was in excellent touch, his fifty taking just 32 balls with five boundaries, as Essex passed 200 in the 33rd over.

BBC: Essex win title as Kent miss out

On this afternoon in early December he is recalling his past and projecting out a bit--five years hence--for the business empire whose saga has seen him go from plastic-flower manufacturer to the richest resident of Asia.

FORBES: Thoughts of Chairman Li

Team director Andy Flower insisted Flintoff will not be picked if he is not going be fit for a full five days.

BBC: I can complete series - Flintoff