Another pathetic performance with bat and ball resulted in Essex Eagles suffering a humiliating 125-runs defeat at Chelmsford against a Warwickshire Bears side who had lost all their previous National League games this season.

After their opponents had powered their way to 307-5, largely on the back of Ian Bell's 125, Essex were bowled out for 182 in the 28th over.

The pitch was of a placid nature but a succession of rash strokes quickly led to the disintegration of the top order and, long before the match reached its inevitable conclusion, it was over as a meaningful contest.

With five men back in the pavilion with only 73 on the board, it was always going to be a question of whether Essex could achieve some sort of respectability and avoid their biggest thrashing in the competition -- defeat by 178 against Worcestershire eight years ago.

That Essex managed to avoid that ignominy was due to an explosive half-century from Graham Napier whose 52 from 29 balls contained three sixes and five fours.

Napier finally perished to a boundary catch attacking Bell who was to return figures of 5-41 with his medium paced deliveries -- which, like his batting, represented a career best in the league.

Essex's performance with the bat was in direct contrast to that of Warwickshire, whose stroke players found the gaps with controlled shots when not opening their shoulders to send fielders scurrying to all parts of the ground.

Bell's effort was magnificent. The 21-year-old right-hander, for whom many are predicting a bright future on the international stage, gathered his runs from 109 balls with the aid of three sixes and 14 fours. He was eventually caught by Ronnie Irani to provide Napier with success.

Irani had earlier dropped Bell at mid-off with the batsman on 87 but by then the Midlanders were looking the likely winners, their cause helped by bowling noted for its lack of direction.

Batsmen were able to thrive on a diet of short balls and half volleys and of the six Essex bowlers used only Napier went for less than six an over.

Bell's chief accomplice was Jonathan Trott with whom he nut on 173 in 28 overs following the departure of former Essex man Nick Knight. Trott made 59.

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Published Monday, June 16, 2003

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