Essex beat Worcestershire by four wickets with five balls to spare at Chelmsford to record their 12th win of the season in the totesport League.
A superb innings by Grant Flower proved to be the match-winner as he celebrated the award of his county cap with 81 and two wickets.
Already crowned champions, the home side had nothing but pride at stake but Ronnie Irani's men played in the same tigerish and determined fashion that had made the side virtually invincible in the one-day league this summer.
They have only lost one of their 15 matches this season in the competition and although Worcestershire, batting first having won the toss, appeared to be offering a serious challenge to that magnificent record when they reached 159 for two with 15 overs remaining, their opponents retrieved the situation with two dramatic spells of bowling.
The first wicket had posted 103 runs in 20 overs, although it took three batsmen to achieve the impressive start.
West Indies Test star Chris Gayle was forced to retire with palpitations when the score had reached ten leaving Stephen Moore and Vikram Solanki to continue the partnership.
The Worcestershire innings closed on 240 for nine but although Irani fell in the fourth over, Essex maintained the required momentum in a perfectly-paced response.
More in today's Evening Gazette
Published Monday, September 19, 2005
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