Essex beaten at Warwickshire in LV=Insurance County Championship

Essex lost by ten wickets to suffer their first defeat of their LV=Insurance County Championship season, after the hosts completed victory an hour after lunch on the final day at Edgbaston.

The visitors resumed on the last morning on 290 for eight, just 73 ahead and needing something special from their last two wickets to stay in the game.

But they added only another 33 to be all out for 323 and leave the home side a victory target of 107 in more than two sessions.

Both wickets fell to concussion substitute Craig Miles who ended with four for 85 while Simon Harmer was left stranded on 75 (156 balls, ten fours, one six).

Openers Alex Davies (65, 131 balls) and Dom Sibley (41, 96) eased Warwickshire to victory with an unbroken stand of 110 in 37.4 overs.

Essex head coach McGrath said: "The hour after lunch on the first day, when we lost a lot of wicket, really put us behind the eight-ball.

"To make 168 on a good wicket, you are not going to win too many games from there.

"We fought back well but when you are facing a deficit of over 200 it's going to be tough to save the game.

"We scrapped but didn't have anyone who made the big hundreds and the big partnerships and that cost us.

"It's a match to forget for us, really.

"It's a resounding victory for Warwickshire and they well-deserved it and I don't want to take anything away from them.

"Even though we played below our standard, you have got to congratulate Warwickshire on the way they played."

Essex were left to digest their first defeat of the campaign and also the blow of England batter Dan Lawrence's hamstring injury which is likely to sideline him for several weeks.

McGrath added: "Dan has had a scan on his hamstring.

"We don't know how long he's going to be out yet.

"Hopefully it's not as bad as it at first felt.

"The specialist will give is his expert view tomorrow so hopefully we'll get a bit of good news but he will certainly miss the Northants game."