Adrian Aymes and Robin Smith emerged as the star performers as Essex were condemned to a five-wicket defeat by Hampshire in their Benson and Hedges Cup clash at Chelmsford.

On a day when Australian leg spinner Shane Warne was at the centre of attention, it was they who proved the match winners as they put together a three-figure partnership.

Both scored half-centuries to rescue their side from a disastrous start and lay the foundation for a triumph achieved with 15 balls to spare.

This Is Essex at Easter

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The team at This Is Essex would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very happy Easter. Essex, who were restricted to a total of 201-9, now find themselves going into the final Group game against Sussex at Chelmsford on Easter Monday needing victory to stand a realistic chance of reaching the quarter-final stages of the competition.

An injury to Ronnie Irani did not help Essex's cause. After a superb opening spell of six overs which cost just seven runs, the all rounder injured his knee while fielding and did not bowl again.

But in all fairness Hampshire were worthy winners. Their bowlers performed consistently in more helpful conditions early in the day, while their batsmen experienced fewer alarms after they had seen off the opening threat of Mark Ilott and Irani.

Ilott got rid of Jason Lacey and Derek Kenway in successive overs with only 11 on the board, before Aymes and Smith joined forces.

Essex must have known it was not going to be their day soon after Hampshire had reached 50. It was then that Ashley Cowan, standing at slip, put down a comparatively easy catch which would have got rid of Smith.

The former England star had only 19 against his name at the time and went on to compete a fine 50 in 73 balls to put his county firmly in the driving seat.

Smith departed soon afterwards, bowled by Paul Grayson for 56, to end a partnership of 120 in 28 overs.

Aymes went on to make a solid 63 from 117 balls before being bowled by Cowan, but by then Essex were fighting a lost cause.

Hampshire were hurried to victory by Dimitri Mascarenhas as he tucked into Ilott during an over which brought him 16 runs.

Once again Irani and Stephen Peters, as was the case in the triumph over Kent 24 hours earlier, were the main contributors for Essex.

Irani's innings of 50 was solid rather than spectacular against an attack which gave very little way.

Certainly there were few opportunities for him to open his broad shoulders, but he did so with great effect when Warne presented him with a juicy full toss on his legs.

Irani showed his appreciation by pulling him for six during an inauspicious debut by the Aussie star.

Warne finished wicketless while conceding 44 in his ten-over stint and it was left to 40-year-old veteran seamer Peter Hartley to inflict most damage with 3-38. It was he who got rid of both Irani and Peters.

Irani's 90-ball effort ended when he was caught on the cover boundary while Peters departed as an outside edge that finished up in the hands of Point.

By then the youngster had confirmed his promise and fine start to the season with a stylish 43 from 42 deliveries, his ability to find the gaps enabling Essex to prosper at the rate of seven an over in the final stages of their innings.

But as later events were to prove, it was of no avail.

Australian wizard - but Shane Warne claimed no wickets against Essex

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