Napier carries Essex over the line

Graham Napier accelerated Essex's innings at the perfect time, hitting a crucial six off Johan van der Wath

Essex claimed a four-wicket win over Northamptonshire at Chelmsford with just one ball to spare, lifting themselves into pole position in the race for the second promotion spot in the LV= County Championship.

Set 242 in 52 overs to win the Division Two match, Essex’s winning run came courtesy of a bye after seventh-wicket pair Graham Napier (22 not out) and Tom Westley (15no) came together with 37 runs still needed and just four overs remaining.

Alastair Cook and John Maunders had put the home side on course with an opening partnership of 130 in 32 overs.

However, an incisive and prolonged spell from Johan van der Wath, who finished with 5-71, provided problems for Essex as the bowler claimed the first four wickets, all caught by wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien.

Maunders went for 46, Cook for an outstanding 87 from 116 deliveries, Matt Walker for 39 and Ryan ten Doeschate for seven to leave the hosts on 192 for four.

With Andrew Hall bowling Mark Pettini for five and van der Wath claiming a fifth victim when he dismissed James Foster for the same, all results were possible with Essex 205 for six.

Twenty-eight runs were required form the final three overs but then van der Wath conceded a defining 16 runs, including a six by Napier and two fours to tilt the balance back towards Essex.

Just three runs were needed from the final over of an enthralling match and although van der Wath yielded just two runs from the first four deliveries, a scrambled bye saw Essex home and lifted them into second place in Division Two.

The visitors were bowled out for 195 in their second innings after a superb spell of bowling at the start of the day's play from paceman Chris Wright fashioned the opportunity for the county's fifth victory in the championship this season.

Wright took 3-37 in an eight-over spell to give his side the initiative as the visitors capitulated rapidly from 55 for two to 90 for seven before a 60-run partnership between David Lucas and Andrew Hall bolstered a faltering innings.

Northamptonshire had resumed on 41 for two overnight, a lead of 87, having been credited with two further runs after the scorers had failed to log a no-ball the previous evening.

Wright began the visitors problems in the fifth over of the morning when he had Riki Wessels caught for eight by keeper Pettini, deputising for regular stumper Foster who sustained a damaged cheekbone in the warm-up to the day's proceedings.

Van der Wath's marathon spell was a brave attempt to prevent Essex from winning, but he tired towards the end

Wright struck again two overs later when Rob White lost his middle stump and then Nicky Boje became the third victim of the day to fall for eight when Wright encouraged a loose drive that was caught at cover.

The introduction of Napier into the attack at the opposite end produced immediate reward when, with his third delivery, he removed O'Brien who had attempted to hold the innings together with 38 out of 85 before giving Pettini his second catch with the gloves.

In his next over, Napier removed van der Wath for a duck to leave Hall and Lucas applying first aid to an ailing innings.

Pettini did spill Lucas on 18 shortly before substitute Adam Wheater, a recognised keeper, took over the gloves.

It was Danish Kaneria that finally broke the stand when Hall was bowled by a googly for 29 leaving Northants 150 for eight.

Monty Panesar contributed 19 out of 33 before Wright, who finished with 4-43, made him his fourth victim and Napier (3-46) had last man Lee Daggett caught at slip leaving Lucas stranded on 55 not out.

Essex took 19 points from the match whilst Northamptonshire took four points. Essex lead today’s opponents by three points, with Derbyshire a further 10 back.