A brilliant unbeaten 112 from only 59 balls from Ravi Bopara, who also claimed four wickets, helped take Essex to a win at Derby in the NatWest Pro40.

Derbyshire made a spirited reply - they came up 25 runs short at 280-8 needing 305 to win - after Bopara had hit seven sixes, losing at least three balls.

The England man's second 50 came off only 16 balls as the Eagles soared past the 300 mark, making 304-1.

He hit four sixes in succession off a perplexed Graeme Wagg (1-72 in eight).

At least the home side had the consolation of seeing a giant screen hoisted on a crane at the City End of the County Ground end after delays caused by the setting sun in recent seasons.

But their bowlers were still dazzled by the strokeplay of Bopara, who more than made up for the fact that Graham Napier's big hitting was not required.

Napier would have struggled to rival the quality of Bopara, who demolished the Phantoms' attack after Jason Gallian (108 not out) and Mark Pettini (73) had provided him with a launching pad by putting on 143 for the first wicket.

Pettini made 73 before he top-edged Wagg to the wicketkeeper in the 24th over but that was Derbyshire's last success as Bopara, backed by the measured batting of Gallian, cut loose.

But conditions were good for batting and Derbyshire also started well, with Chris Rogers and Dan Birch sharing an opening stand of 75 before Bopara bowled Birch with a slower ball.

Rogers and Wavell Hinds took up the challenge by adding 87 in 12 overs and it needed a brilliant catch by Tim Phillips on the midwicket boundary to end their partnership.

Phillips tossed the ball to Chris Wright before he stepped over the ropes to remove Hinds for 53 off 47 balls.

Rogers skied James Middlebrook to midwicket in the next over but skipper Rikki Clarke and Greg Smith kept the Phantoms in it by adding 57 in seven overs.

Another Bopara slower ball sent back Smith but Clarke refused to accept defeat, hitting Ryan ten Doeschate for four fours in the 36th over.

Finally, Jamie Pipe and Wagg fell victim to the climbing asking rate and with 37 needed off the last two overs, Clarke's 45-ball innings ended when he chipped to cover, ending Derbyshire's brave chase.