Essex cruise to victory

Ryan ten Doeschate wrapped up the Northamptonshire tail

Essex beat Northamptonshire by nine wickets after the visitors had been dismissed for 237 in the second innings of their LV County Championship match at Chelmsford.

That left the hosts requiring 15 runs for victory, a feat they accomplished in just nine legitimate deliveries.

David Masters took 4-69 and Ryan ten Doeschate claimed 3-23 to act as destroyers in chief for the home side after their opponents had started the day still requiring 181 runs to make them bat again, with only six wickets remaining.

Thanks to the efforts of Lance Klusener, Northamptonshire kept the home side waiting until after tea before completing the win.

The South African followed up his unbeaten 72 in the first innings with an assured and well composed 92 as he produced a valiant effort to hold the innings together.

He and overnight partner Alex Wakely carried their fifth wicket partnership on to 119 having added another 76 runs in the morning session before Wakely edged Ravi Bopara to first slip, where Jason Gallian took the catch.

The opener had earlier been dropped by the former Lancashire and Nottinghamshire player with his score on 45 - but the error was soon rectified, although the 19-year-old batsman was able to post a 135-ball half-century which included eight boundaries, before he was dismissed for 53.

Lance Klusener made Essex wait for their victory with 92

Niall O'Brien was the next to fall, being held at cover by Bopara off the bowling of Chris Wright to the final delivery before lunch, which left the visitors in deep trouble at 147 for six - still trailing by 76 runs.

However Steven Crook joined Klusener for 50 minutes as 48 runs were posted but an incisive burst from ten Doeschate ended Northamptonshire’s hopes of survival.

The Holland World Cup all-rounder grabbed two wickets in five deliveries when he pinned Crook in the crease for 33 before following up with the wicket of David Wigley in similar fashion with the hapless batsman completing a 'pair'.

Klusener was joined by Shaun Bailey and although the youngster contributed a brisk 16 out of 24 to ensure that Essex would have to bat again, he was bowled when attempting to drive ten Doeschate - a delivery that sent off stump cartwheeling out of the ground.

Klusener's resistance was finally broken by Masters when the batsman was within eight runs of his century.

Having faced 153 deliveries and struck ten boundaries, he drove a ball straight into the hands of Gallian at slip, leaving the home side to commence the formality toward a victory as light rain began to fall.

Varun Chopra got off the mark when pulling Wigley for six and although Gallian steered Bailey to second slip having just struck a boundary the bowler also sent down two no-balls and a wide in the same over as the scores were levelled.

Chopra turned Wigley to fine leg for single to complete the Essex win and a haul of 22 points for the victors whilst Northants picked up just three points.