Essex Eagles turned in a superb all-round performance to record their third successive National League victory as they saw off Warwickshire Bears at Edgbaston with five balls to spare.
In a battle reduced to 20 overs per side because of rain, the county bowled out their opponents for 143, and then Will Jefferson struck a half-century from only 35 deliveries to point the way to an eight-wicket triumph.
It was one set up with some fine seam bowling, particularly by skipper Ronnie Irani, backed up by magnificent fielding.
Scott Brant held three catches in the deep, one a brilliant effort to get rid of Ian Bell, as was James Middlebrook's catch at long on to remove Graham Wagg.
And the bowlers also showed discipline, with none of the five used conceding a wide or sending down a no ball. Yet when the contest did start the Midlanders dominated the initial stages.
Despite the early loss of Mark Wagh, a victim of Brant, Warwickshire posted the 50 in the sixth over, mainly through the efforts of Jonathan Trott (40).
But the arrival of Irani turned the tide firmly in Essex's favour. He struck in each of his first three overs, claiming Trott among his victims as Jefferson held on to a catch at short extra cover.
And the captain received tremendous support from Andy Clarke, who was making his first senior outing of the summer following injury problems.
Clarke's first three deliveries cost 11 runs but he held himself together to concede only seven singles in the remainder of his three overs, while claiming the wickets of Wagg and Jamie Troughton.
Irani and Clarke reduced Warwickshire to 75-6 and although Dougie Brown did his best to retrieve the situation with an aggressive 37, Essex looked the likely winners from that point.
Napier and Brant finished with a couple of wickets each, while Justin Bishop picked up the other.
Jefferson was soon sending fielders on retrieving missions with well timed drives and the odd pull.
With Andy Flower -- promoted to opener in the absence of the injured Darren Robinson -- content to keep the scoreboard ticking over, Essex were soon striding to victory.
The 50 arrived in the sixth over and a further 32 had been added by the tenth with the openers still together.
But in the next Jefferson, having reached his 50 with the help of seven fours and two sixes, put up a simple catch to wicketkeeper Tony Frost in Ashley Giles' first over.
James Foster became another victim of the spinner as he was stumped giving it the charge, but Flower and Irani saw the county home.
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Published Monday, May 19, 2003
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