Essex captain Ronnie Irani shouldered the responsibility of bowling the last over of the match just as Hampshire's last-wicket pair of Lawrie Prittipaul and Chris Tremlett threatened an unlikely victory - and was rewarded with Prittipaul's wicket with his first delivery giving Essex a win of their own by eight runs.

Essex looked home and dry when Hampshire slumped to 169 for nine in reply to their 216 for seven. But then promising youngsters Prittipaul and Tremlett began chipping away at the deficit so that only eight were required from the final over. Prittipaul was duly bowled aiming an extravagant drive.

A crowd of around 2,500 (the biggest yet at the Rose Bowl) saw Essex build a decent total around Stuart Law's 45 and a breezy 47 not out from young wicket-keeper James Foster in a partnership of 83 for the sixth wicket with Ashley Cowan.

Neil Johnson led a bright Hampshire reply with a six and six fours in his 48 and then Prittipaul and Dimitri Mascarenhas put on 54 for the sixth leaving Hampshire needing 51 off the final ten overs.

Wickets fell steadily, notably to the accurate Mark Ilott, and it seemed all over as a contest until the final resistence which so nearly swung the match Hampshire's way.

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