CLYDESDALE BANK 40 GROUP B, Colchester:
Derbyshire 253-5 beat Essex 168 all out by 85 runs
Match scorecard

Durston's 72 not out for Derbyshire came off just 62 deliveries

A hard-hitting 72 not out from Will Durston put Derbyshire on their way to an 85-run CB40 victory over Essex.

Chesney Hughes (45), Greg Smith (46), Graham Wagg (36 no off 15 balls) and Wayne Madsen (35) also contributed to the visitors' total of 253-5.

Essex lost wickets regularly throughout their reply, and the end came quickly after Grant Flower was dismissed for 53 by off-spinner Jake Needham (3-36).

The home team lost their last seven wickets for 30 runs to subside to 168.

Durston also pulled off a brilliant catch on the long-on boundary to remove Essex batsman Ryan ten Doeschate. The departure of ten Doeschate, fourth out on a total of 138, pointed the way to a swift decline of the Essex innings.

Durston's positive approach brought him eight fours and a six, and provided much needed momentum to Derbyshire's innings after they had needed 24 overs to move into three figures.

Chris Wright was the bowler to suffer most, his final two overs costing 34.

When Essex replied, Mark Pettini and Ravi Bopara were just threatening to move up a gear but they were each dismissed in the 20s.

Flower and Matt Walker put together a half-century stand for the third wicket but once Walker was superbly run out for 32 by Smith's direct throw from backward square leg, Essex lost their way.

Essex were left reflecting on a defeat that dealt their hopes of reaching the later stages of the competition a severe blow.

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