Ravi Bopara played the leading role as Essex snatched a thrilling four-wicket victory in their Twenty20 Cup clash with Surrey at Chelmsford.

The England star struck 53 from 41 deliveries as his side, replying to a total of 165 for five, squeezed home with just one ball to spare.

Bopara's innings included two successive driven sixes against Andre Nel to carry him to his half-century and he collected four further boundaries before he was caught on the long-off boundary attacking Matt Spriegel.

Bopara needed a slice of luck on the way, Chris Schofield putting down a straightforward catch at long-on when on 36.

He had earlier shared in a second-wicket stand of 65 in eight overs with Alastair Cook, one which was brought to an end when the latter was run out for 39.

Bopara was removed in the same over as James Foster, who was also caught in the deep for four.

Matt Walker and Ryan ten Doeschate took Essex to the brink of victory before the former was run out for 30 with only three runs needed.

Ten Doeschate followed with the scores level, leaving Grant Flower to crack the winning boundary through the offside.

Earlier, Surrey's innings owed much to opener Scott Newman, whose unbeaten 81 signalled his highest score in the competition.

His effort contained 10 fours and a six and was made off 60 deliveries.

Newman shared in two substantial partnerships. Usman Afzaal helped him put together an opening stand of 50 in six overs and later Spriegel featured in a partnership of 63 in six overs.

That particular effort came after Surrey had wobbled by losing Mark Ramprakash, Stewart Walters and Grant Elliott in the space of 10 balls with the total in the 80s.

David Masters, who breached Ramprakash's defence to knock out the middle stump after he had scored 17 from 15 deliveries, proved Essex's most successful bowler with two for 34 from four overs.

This was Essex's second victory in this season's competition after three matches.