Derbyshire end long wait

Jamie Pipe showed diligence and destruction to guide his team to a long-awaited win

An explosive innings from Jamie Pipe and a composed half-century by Chris Rogers took Derbyshire to a four-wicket victory over Essex, their first over the visitors at Derby for ten years.

The rain-hit match at Derby was heading for a draw until the teams contrived to set up a run chase which saw the home side reach a target of 266 from 65 overs.

Derbyshire fed Essex runs in the morning to throw the game open and Jason Gallian, Tom Westley and Ravi Bopara helped themselves to half-centuries before the visitors declared at lunch.

Steve Stubbings and Rogers gave Derbyshire a solid platform with an opening stand of 78 but the game was still in the balance until Pipe arrived to smash three consecutive fours off South African Test seamer Andre Nel.

David Masters threatened to give the contest a late twist by bowling Rogers for 77 but Derbyshire kept their nerve to cross the line with 32 balls to spare.

Derbyshire needed to score at four an over to record their first win of the season which was no easy task on a slow pitch.

Steve Stubbings chipped in with 57, from 81 deliveries

Stubbings reverse swept James Middlebrook for six in his 57, which came off 81 balls, before he played across the line at Chris Wright.

Essex got themselves back in the game with two more wickets either side of tea.

John Sadler drove Middlebrook to deep mid off where Ryan ten Doeschate took an excellent diving catch and then Nel brought one back sharply to trap Dominic Telo lbw in the first over of the final session.

At 108 for three in the 33rd over, Derbyshire had a lot to do but Rogers and skipper Rikki Clarke played sensibly by working the ball into the gaps in a stand of 67 in 13 overs.

Clarke made 37 of them and looked to be winning the game until he drove ten Doeschate to point in the 46th over and Derbyshire lost their fifth wicket when Frederik Klokker was lbw to Middlebrook with 65 still needed.

But Pipe then launched his assault on Nel and he also cut and drove Middlebrook for two more fours to shift the balance back in Derbyshire's favour.

Masters claimed the key wicket of Rogers with 38 needed but Graham Wagg joined Pipe to finally take the game away from Essex.

Wagg lifted Masters over deep square leg for six and Pipe cut and drove him for two fours in an over which cost 15 and victory was sealed when Wagg turned a ten Doeschate no-ball to the fine leg boundary.

Pipe was unbeaten on 36 from 24 balls while Wagg's 25 came from 18 balls.