Essex drop to the foot of the table

The defeat sent Essex to the foot of the table and completed a miserable festival week of results at Southend.

Two interruptions for rain during the visitors' innings had left Essex with a revised target of 191 for victory in 34 overs.

But when the third wicket went down in the 16th over with 73 on the board, the initiative swung in favour of the visitors - who had started the match propping up the table without a point from their two matches - and they were finally bowled out for 184.

Grant Flower did his best to rally the home side with a 47-ball half-century that included a six amongst a tally of seven boundaries.

But when he departed two balls later for 53 to a catch at long-off, he took with him any realistic hopes Essex may have retained of recording their first win of the season in the competition.

Twenty-eight runs were still required at the fall of Flower's wicket with less than three overs and three wickets remaining.

And although Andy Bichel hit an unbeaten 17 from 11 deliveries, Warwickshire retained their firm grip on the game to leave Essex reflecting on a depressing run of form that has seen them taste victory in just one of their last 13 matches in all competitions.

The innings had started promisingly with Mark Pettini and Varun Chopra posting 49 in 11 overs before Pettini was caught on the leg-side boundary for 33, a welcome return to form for the Essex opener and captain.

It also gave Stuart Hole, a former professional footballer with Wycombe Wanderers, a wicket with his first legitimate delivery for the county.

Wicket-keeper Tim Ambrose and bowler Heath Streak combined for the next two wickets, with Chopra falling for 23 and Ravinder Bopara for 11 to leave Essex 73-3 wickets.

While Flower and James Foster were at the crease, there was a chance that Essex might pull the game around as 38 runs were added in seven overs before 13 proved unlucky for Foster, who gave Ambrose a third catch when executing a reverse sweep off the bowling of Alex Loudon.

Four overs later, the off-spinner claimed Ryan ten Doeschate for 14, but it was the loss of Flower with three overs remaining and 28 runs required that proved the defining blow.

Andy Bichel struck an unbeaten 17 from 11 deliveries but failed to find the necessary support from the lower order, with Streak wrapping up the innings by having Tony Palladino caught at long on to finish with figures of 4-39, while Alex Loudon and Lee Daggett returned 2-27 and 2-38 respectively.

Warwickshire, who won the toss, reached 188-6 from their 34 overs with Darren Maddy and Kumar Sangakkarra both contributing 41 before Loudon and Tim Ambrose accelerated the pace adding 51 in eight overs.

Crucially 45 runs were scored in the final five overs, including 30 from the final two overs, with Ambrose finishing 31 not out.

Graham Napier, 2-38, and James Middlebrook, 2-43, were the most successful Essex bowlers, although despite not taking a wicket, Danish Kaneria proved a model of economy, his seven overs costing 17 runs.

It was the visitors' first win in 11 matches in all competitions, while Essex, champions for the past two years, now find themselves facing a battle to maintain their Division One status.

It is understood that they could have a new face in the squad this week after negotiating terms with Chris Wright, a 22-year-old fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman whom Middlesex have agreed to release.