Essex strengthen their grip

Grant Flower showed the way for Essex with an innings of 51 © Getty Images

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Essex consolidated their place at the top of the NatWest Pro40 Second Division as they beat Surrey at Chelmsford by 30 runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method.

On a greenish pitch where seam bowlers were the dominant force, Essex were bowled out for 167 and then reduced their rivals to 47 for four before rain forced an abandonment with them well short of the par score of 77 needed to win.

David Masters was chiefly responsible for Surrey's woes. After being awarded his county cap with Jason Gallian at the interval, the fast bowler roared in to capture three wickets in seven overs which cost just 10 runs.

He removed Stewart Walters and Usman Afzaal with successive deliveries in his second over, the latter falling to a fine slip catch by James Middlebrook, before having Scott Newman caught behind for 19.

Surrey simply had no answer to his accuracy and hostility.

Grant Flower had earlier paved the way for Essex's fourth victory of the campaign with an innings which combined discipline with an ability to coax the ball into the gaps.

He did that so successfully that his 51 from 71 deliveries contained just four boundaries, his fine effort coming to an end when he was caught behind to provide Chris Jordan with success.

While Flower underlined the value of composure and experience, some of his colleagues succumbed while trying to hit the ball out of sight.

Graham Napier, who has established a reputation for spectacular hitting in the limited-overs game this summer, struck two boundaries before falling to a magnificent diving catch by Walters running around from deep midwicket.

And he was quickly followed back to the pavilion by James Foster who found the hands of deep square leg.

Apart from Flower, only Gallian and Middlebrook made notable contributions. Gallian departed for 21 while Middlebrook was left stranded on 20 when the final wicket fell.

Pedro Collins was the pick of the visiting attack as he claimed 2-24 from 7.1 overs.

Jade Dernbach and Jordan provided the main back-up support with a couple of wickets each.

It soon became apparent Surrey were fighting a losing battle once Masters made his telling impact.

Essex have now won four of their five games - the other one ending in a tie - while Surrey were left reflecting on their third setback in four attempts.