Middlebrook has been a stalwart in the Essex side this season

Essex spinner James Middlebrook has promised the team will bounce back from their Twenty20 Cup disappointment.

Following their defeat in the Twenty20 Cup semi-finals, the Eagles returned to winning ways with 25-run win over Derbyshire in the Pro40 Championship.

Middlebrook told BBC Essex: "We wanted to come here and prove a point and show bouncebackability.

"We've had a very good season so far, especially after the disappointment of last year but we've got to keep going."

Essex's win at Derby, aided by century knocks from Ravi Bopara and Jason Gallian, was their first match after the defeat by Kent at the Twenty20 Cup finals day at the Rose Bowl.

The result leaves them unbeaten in the Pro40 competition, with two wins and a draw.

The spirit's been brilliant in the camp since 1 March Essex spinner James Middlebrook

Middlebrook said the Twenty20 Cup loss to Kent should not deflect from their achievements so far this season.

"Paul Grayson has brought our team back round this year," he explained. "The spirit's been brilliant in the camp since the 1 March.

"We've played well in all forms of cricket - we're third or fourth in the Championship - we're in the Friends Provident Final, we made Twenty20 Finals day and the Pro40 is going pretty well.

"But we're always striving for more to keep improving ourselves."

Essex's next game is a County Championship encounter with Glamorgan at Southend, starting on Wednesday.