Nasser Hussain made a triumphant return at Edgbaston as Essex thrashed Warwickshire by 129 runs to record their first National League success of the summer.

If he was devastated by England's elimination from the World Cup 24 hours earlier, he did not let it prevent him from masterminding a success which will hopefully point to more rewarding times.

Leading from the front as an opener, Hussain scored a magnificent 81 to help the county to 238-5, and then saw his bowling changes work a treat as the Midlanders were routed for 109.

For good measure, he also held two catches to confirm he has one of the safest pair of hands in the games.

Hussain was one of the few England batsmen to emerge from the World Cup with credit after being pressed into action as an opener - and it was a position he filled admirably yesterday, while confirming his ability to find the gaps with ease and look completely in control against the new ball.

He scored his runs from 113 balls, hitting two sixes among his eight boundaries, and will have been delighted that he inspired Darren Robinson to find form again.

The pair shared in an opening stand of 124 before Robinson was caught off Dougie Brown for 53, and that paved the way for Stuart Law to smash 48 from 37 deliveries .

Hussain eventually fell to paceman Ed Giddins, while Law died bravely, attacking off-spinner Neil Smith.

Ronnie Irani missed out on the run feast - he did not even trouble the scorers - but he made a spectacular impact as a medium-pace bowler.

After Ashley Cowan and Mark Ilott had shot out the openers, Irani arrived on the scene to remove David Hemp, Anurag Singh, Ashley Giles, and Brown in consecutive overs on his way to figures of 4-13.

By then, Warwickshire were on their knees and off-spinner Peter Such was to make sure they would not get up by grabbing 3-26.

Only Trevor Penney, whose unbeaten 32 included a huge straight six against Such, put up any semblance of a fight, but he was unable to prevent his side's feeble challenge coming to an end in the 29th over.

Essex will now be keeping their fingers crossed that they can keep the momentum going in their Championship match against Hampshire which starts at Ilford tomorrow.

The visitors will arrive as Championship leaders and included in their ranks is John Stephenson, who spent ten summers with Essex before leaving at the end of the 1994 season.

Following Hampshire's visit, Gloucestershire will be the county's next opponents at Valentine Park - the two sides getting to grips in a National League clash on Sunday.

Leading the way - Essex skipper Nasser Hussain hit instant form on his return to county action against Warwickshire in the National League.

Hussain is set toplay a major role for Essex in the coming weeks, having missed most of their season so far, following the shock of England's early exit from the World Cup

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