Somerset despatch Essex with some ease

With some formality, Somerset completed their fifth win of the season, beating relegated Essex by nine wickets to take 19 points and enhance their quest for runners-up position in the Cricinfo Championship.

It was the twin spin partners of Keith Dutch and Ian Blackwell who masterminded the downfall of the home side with five wickets between them on a pitch offering slow turn as Essex endured their seventh Championship defeat of the season.

They had begun the day still requiring 194 runs to avoid an innings defeat but the loss of two early wickets, those of Paul Grayson and Richard Clinton before the 100 was on the board, left the visitors totally in control.

Their pursuit of victory was held up by a partnership of 88 in 26 overs between Stuart Law and Ronnie Irani before the latter fell leg before wicket to Richard Johnson for 32.

James Foster gave Johnson his third wicket of the innings, totally beaten by pace and losing middle stump, but the loss of Law in the next over ensured Somerset's success.

The Australian, almost certainly playing his last home Championship innings in an Essex sweater, entertained the crowd with 66, a performance that contained trademark drives that have been so much a feature of his six-year stay with the county.

He was attempting to complete the 13th boundary of his innings when he pulled a delivery from Blackwell into the hands of mid-wicket to leave Essex 191-6 and the slow left-armer soon had Ashley Cowan caught at the wicket.

An enterprising eighth-wicket partnership between Graham Napier and Justin Bishop added 64 and ensured Somerset would have to bat again but the persevering Blackwell finally claimed Napier when the all-rounder pulled him to deep mid-wicket having scored 56 - a Championship-best.

That left Dutch to wrap up the innings, taking the last two wickets in successive overs and leave his side requiring just 64 runs for victory, a task comfortably completed in 9.1 overs for the loss of Matthew Wood's wicket.