RONNIE IRANI gave Essex a big psychological lift ahead of Wednesday's C&G Trophy tie at Chelmsford on Wednesday by blasting Lancashire to a heavy defeat in their National League rehearsal.

Irani, who is in the form of his life and tipped for an England recall when the one-day squad is named this week, smashed 51 from 43 balls as Essex cruised past Lancashire's total of 203 with seven wickets and six overs to spare.

He hit Kyle Hogg for two sixes in the space of four balls and launched Gary Yates for another as Lancashire crashed to their third consecutive one-day defeat.

"That was very disappointing," admitted Stuart Law, who had an unhappy return to his former club.

"None of us are happy with the way we played today. We know we can play a lot better and hopefully we can iron out the flaws in time for Wednesday."

Lancashire had made a good start after Warren Hegg chose to bat first with Mark Chilton continuing his consistent form with 84 from 98 balls.

Surprisingly, it was Chilton's first half century in the National League as all his previous one-day success has come in the cup competitions.

And with Glen Chapple hitting 33 from 24 balls, Lancashire were well placed at 144 for two in the 30th over.

But then Stuart Law, who never looked in top form on his return to his old county, was caught by a delighted Irani at mid on, and the rest of Lancashire's batting crumbled.

They ended with 203 all out, with Irani firing out both Kyle Hogg and Peter Martin for golden ducks in the last over of the innings to end with three for 29.

Martin raised their hopes again with two wickets in the third over of the Essex reply but Darren Robinson and Andy Flower then put on 129 for the third wicket to set the stage for Irani to seal the win in style.