There were many who probably believed Ronnie Irani was being wildly optimistic when he set his sights on the Second Division title prior to the duel with Worcestershire.

But such optimism seemed well-founded at the weekend when Essex emerged from their battle at Kidderminster with a ten-wicket victory.

Not only was it their biggest win of the season, but also one which lifted them into second place, four points adrift of Northants.

Stuart Law had a season's best 189 in the First innings, Paul Prichard scored two 50s, and Irani and Ashley Cowan produced their first five-wicket hauls of the campaign as Worcestershire were bowled out for 282 in their second innings.

With Stephen Peters also collecting a season's best 67 on the second day, it is hardly surprising that title talk is on Irani's agenda.

The only disheartening note was the continuing misery of Nasser Hussain, who hoped to use the match to recover his lean form.

Instead the England captain contributed just ten of Essex's first innings total of 462 to take his season's aggregate to a paltry 144 First-Class runs from 12 completed innings.

On Saturday he was prevented from getting to the middle by the deeds of Prichard and Paul Grayson.

Hussain could only watch from the pavilion as Prichard finished with 62 and Grayson 50 as they knocked off the 123 needed to earn maximum 20 points.

Napier show hit by the elements

Graham Napier stole the show in yesterday's National League clash at Derbyshire with an explosive batting display that powered Essex to a total of 204-8.

But in the end rain proved the victor as Derbyshire's reply ended after only four overs with them on 14-1.

The adverse weather left both counties settling for two points, but not before 20-year-old Napier confirmed his rich potential with an explosive 78 from 83 deliveries after coming into the side in place of Nasser Hussain.

It was an innings full of maturity and power. He took his time to adjust to the slow nature of the pitch and make progress by placing the ball into the gaps.

But once he had come to terms with the conditions, Napier adopted a more muscular approach to deal out punishment to both the seam and spin bowlers.

He reached his 50 from 66 balls and then moved into overdrive to collect three sixes in as many overs, one of them clearing mid-wicket at the expense of England star Dominic Cork.

Napier also struck half a dozen fours while sharing a stand of 111 in 23 overs from Ronnie Irani.

But just when a century seemed to be his for the taking, he was bowled swinging across the line by seamer Paul Alred.

The value and quality of Napier's effort was magnified by what happened following his dismissal.

His departure signalled a rapid decline in the innings of six wickets in ten overs, during which time 45 runs were added.

Amazingly, no-one managed to find the boundary in that spell, Alred picking up three of the wickets - including that of Irani for 35.

When Derbyshire began their reply as the weather closed in, they were to lose Australian Mike Di Vanuto in the opening over - an lbw victim of Danny Law with just a single run on the board.

But the rain came shortly afterwards to deny young strike bowlers Justin Bishop and Basildon-born Andrew McGarry the chance of making an impact.

Together with Napier and wicketkeeper James Foster, who struck an unbeaten 13, they were among four Essex players aged under 21 to appear in the match - a fact which augers well for the county's future.

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