Essex completed their first County Championship victory of the season at Trent Bridge yesterday when they beat Nottinghamshire by 268 runs to take 18 points from an incredible match.

All-rounder Graham Napier did the damage yesterday taking 5-66 to record his best bowling figures in the competition, while James Middlebrook chipped in with 3-64 as Essex completed a formal victory.

"It was great to have been involved in an amazing game and I'm delighted to have played my part," said Napier after Essex secured 18 points.

The all-rounder has taken 13 wickets in the last two matches in the competition and had struck a championship best 57 in the Essex first innings.

"I was disappointed with my early season form but I went into the nets, worked hard at my game and now things are beginning to come together nicely.

"When you play on a wicket that we experienced at Trent Bridge, you can capitalise provided you hit the line and length and that's what I did.

"The win has really boosted the team and we're eagerly looking forward to our next match at Lord's on Wednesday."

Nottinghamshire begun the day needing 426 runs to win with nine wickets remaining but having seen out the first hour safely, the home side's demise began.

Usman Afzaal was the first to depart, beaten by Napier's away swing that saw the batsman rapped on the front pad for 33.

In the next over, Scott Brant removed opener Jason Gallian (42) when he played down the wrong line and was adjudged leg before wicket.

The aggressive Kevin Pietersen made his intentions clear immediately striking his first delivery to the boundary ropes before taking a four off Napier to bring up the hundred.

But the introduction of Middlebrook's off spin brought his downfall when he chipped the ball straight into the hands of Essex skipper Paul Grayson at mid-wicket to leave the home side 116-4.

Although further losses were avoided before lunch, they soon recoiled afterwards against an Essex attack that did not include a single-capped player to add further ignominy to a spineless Nottinghamshire performance.

Bilal Shafayat (21) was out to the first ball of Napier's post lunch spell driving to cover point where Ravinder Bopara had been stationed and when Middlebrook struck twice in the same over, 15 minutes later, the winning post for Essex was in sight -- and in a canter.

Overseas player Chris Cairns looked solid but with his score on 39, gave himself room to cut but was beaten by turn from Middlebrook who then had Greg Smith caught at bat pad by Darren Robinson two balls later.

That left Napier to wrap up the innings with the 23 year-old taking the last three wickets in four overs.

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Published Monday, June 2, 2003

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