Lancs in final loss

Lancashire could only reach 142 off 44 overs on a slow, low wicket and Essex reached their victory target with eight overs to spare.

consecutive time. Iain Sutcliffe made some welcome runs and was the

top-scorer with a solid innings of 45. The only other batsmen to reach

double figures were Mark Currie with 29 and Gary Yates who finished 21 not

out. James Middlebrook and Paul Grayson once again tied the batsmen down,

Middlebrook taking 4 for 19.

In the Essex reply, Will Jefferson hit 61, which an innings watching

Lancashire Manager Mike Watkinson described as "brilliant". The rest of the

Essex batsmen struggled with the conditions and a mid-innings collapse

initiated by Gary Yates with 4 for 39 and Peter Martin (3 for 32) meant

Essex still required 30 runs with only 4 wickets left. Wicket-keeper James

Foster and the experienced John Stephenson then combined to steer their side

to the victory target with nearly 8 overs to spare.

Mike Watkinson while disappointed with the defeat, was pleased with the

fight back in the Essex innings. "You would like to win, of course," he

said, "but these games are all about time in the middle, and we will be

using the remaining games to give everyone as much practise as possible."

Scores:

Lancashire innings: 142 all out (44 overs)

Mark Chilton 2, Iain Sutcliffe 45, Mal Loye 9, Alec Swann 0, Mark Currie 29,

Glen Chapple 3, Warren Hegg 4, Peter Martin 2, Gary Yates 21*, John Wood 8,

Steven Crook 4.

Bowling figures:

Jon Dakin 0-24 (5), Justin Bishop 1-28 (7), Andy Clarke 2-22 (8), John

Stephenson 1-21 (6), James Middlebrook 4-19 (9), Paul Grayson 1-24 (9).

Essex innings: 144-7 (37.1 overs)

Will Jefferson 61, Darren Robinson 16, Aftab Habib 6, Paul Grayson 9, James

Foster 27*, Ravinder Bopara 0, Jon Dakin 3, James Middlebrook 3, John

Stephenson 10*. Did not bat: Justin Bishop, Andy Clarke.

Bowling figures:

Peter Martin 3-32 (9), Glen Chapple 0-24 (7), Gary Yates 4-39 (8), John Wood

0-27 (7), Steven Crook 0-20 (6.1)