TIM Phillips recorded career-best one-day figures of 5-28 as Essex hammered the Unicorns by eight wickets in the Clydesdale Bank 40 at the Victory Ground.

Phillips removed Josh Knappett, one of only three home players to reach double figures, and then blew away the lower order as the Unicorns could muster only 137 despite 58 from Chris Benham.

They never looked like defending that total and the Eagles made virtually untroubled progress to 140-2 with 5.5 overs to spare.

After the Unicorns had won the toss and chosen to bat, Robin Lett fell cheaply to Graham Napier.

Michael Thornely made 25 before being trapped in front by David Masters and wicketkeeper Knappett put on 32 with James Campbell before the latter fell for seven.

Captain Keith Parsons was bowled by Ravi Bopara two balls later as the England hopeful’s seven overs yielded two for 23, and Knappett then became Phillips’ first victim, bowled for 23.

That was 71 for five and Benham was left to carry the tail end, the next four wickets grinding out 27 runs in a little over 10 overs.

Phillips took all of them, Neil Saker offering limited support to Benham with nine, while Amar Rashid and Glen Querl made it three second-ball ducks in the innings and Dan Wheeldon scored four.

Benham then cut loose, the bulk of his seven boundaries coming in a stand of 39 with last man Tom Craddock — who faced just nine balls in 34 minutes for his one not out.

The expensive Lonwabo Tsotsobe returned to claim top-scorer Benham, caught by Matt Walker, and Essex were left to chase just 138.

Openers Mark Pettini and Alastair Cook made a fine start with a stand of 53 before the latter was bowled by Saker for a pleasing 38 from 40 balls, which contained seven boundaries.

New man Napier launched one six but otherwise failed to live up to his big-hitting reputation and made just 11 from 20 balls before Benham, as catcher, and bowler Craddock once more teamed up to good effect.

Pettini and Bopara, though, progressed to the winning post in serene fashion, the former reaching an unbeaten 48 from 100 balls while Bopara made 29 from 46, hitting Benham’s first ball for four to finish the match.

>Graham Napier celebrated a dramatic hat-trick but Essex Eagles' day-night Clydesdale Bank 40 clash against Glamorgan Dragons fell victim to the weather on Friday.

Glamorgan scored 222 for seven after being sent in to bat at the Swalec Stadium, only for rain to then set in and force the match to be abandoned.

>Essex have signed New Zealand World Cup star Tim Southee for the upcoming Friends Life t20 campaign.

The capture of the 22-year-old right-hand medium-fast bowler is subject to formal approval from the New Zealand Cricket Board and him obtaining the necessary working visa.