Essex thrashed a sorry Northamptonshire by eight wickets to consolidate their grip on top spot in Division Two.

Rain had reduced the match to 37 overs but it took the hosts just 20.1 overs to bowl out Northants for 61.

Chris Wright took 3-3 in four overs, while Graham Napier and David Masters also each claimed three wickets.

The pitch was nowhere near as problematic as the visitors' display had implied, with Essex reaching 64-2 off just 14.5 overs.

Only two Northants players, David Sales (17) and Lance Klusener (20) made it into double figures, and considering they were 12-4 at one point, their final total could have been a lot worse.

Essex suffered just two setbacks on the way as Varun Chopra and Graham Napier were both dismissed by Johan van der Wath.

Jason Gallian finished on 20 not out, while Bopara sealed victory with his third boundary of an unbeaten 14.