JESSE Ryder hit an unbeaten 52 off 45 balls to guide Essex to an effortless eight-wicket victory over Surrey at the Kia Oval, and make it two wins in as many days in the South Group of the T20 Blast for the Eagles.

Ryder, in company with skipper Ravi Bopara - who chipped in with an undefeated 36 off 38 deliveries - put on 76 in 11 overs for the third wicket either side of a 45-minute break for rain as Essex posted 121-2 off 16.5 overs in reply to the hosts' 117-9 in front of a Saturday afternoon crowd of 13,470.

Following the early loss of Kishen Velani, who was caught at mid-on off Ravi Rampaul without scoring, Jesse Ryder and Tom Westley combined for 39 in four overs.

Ryder, driving powerfully through wide mid-off and adept at manoeuvring the ball into the gaps, clubbed fours off Rampaul and Dwayne Bravo before Westley pulled Tom Curran past mid-on for two boundaries in the space of three balls.

With Bravo guilty of drifting onto the batsmen’s legs throughout much of the sixth over, Essex were 47-2 at the end of the power play - the only relief for the West Indian being the wicket of Westley, who was LBW for 19.

Earlier, Surrey were unable to establish a foothold, finding the boundary on just seven occasions after being put into bat by Essex, who employed 11 overs of spin.

Dan Lawrence set the tone for the visitors by conceding just 11 runs from his four overs, which also brought the 18-year-old a couple of wickets.

Lawrence struck first ball with his off-spin when Steven Davies flicked to Bopara at square leg. Kumar Sangakkara, beaten by a direct hit by Ashar Zaidi from square leg, was run out four deliveries later.

Rory Burns lofted Graham Napier high to Westley at mid-off, though not before driving Matt Quinn to the point boundary and Napier through cover and at the end of their power play, Surrey were 31-3.

Zafar Ansari picked out Napier at long-off, off the bowling of Zaidi. 43-4 became 46-5 when Gary Wilson, who had become increasingly frustrated, drilled the returning Lawrence straight to long-off to go for 17.

Forced to rebuild, Bravo and Sam Curran added 50 for the sixth wicket in seven overs.

Curran, fresh from completing his A-Level exams, pulled Westley through wide mid-on and swung Napier over midwicket for six.

Bravo (20) followed the youngster's lead by pulling Quinn for a maximum, only to launch himself into an extravagant cover drive and fall to a catch in the deep next ball.

Sam Curran was eventually bowled around his legs for 32, attempting to work Quinn down to fine leg.

Bopara rounded off the Surrey innings by taking successive catches at deep midwicket, the second just an inch off the ground, to give Napier figures of 3-28 and condemn Surrey to their second defeat in 24 hours in the competition.