Thursday 30 July 2015 15:34, UK
Openers Mark Pettini and Tom Westley scored centuries as Essex beat Warwickshire by 152 runs in their Royal London One Day Cup Group B clash at Chelmsford.
Pettini and Westley dominated against the visiting attack to pave the way for a total of 320-5, one which proved well beyond Warwickshire's capabilities as they were bowled out for 168 in 40.2 overs.
It proved an unhappy return for former Essex batsman Varun Chopra with the Warwickshire captain soon regretting his decision to insert the home side as Pettini and Westley launched the Essex innings with an opening stand of 191 in 34 overs.
Respite only came when Westley was trapped leg before to off-spinner Jeetan Patel but not before he had amassed 108, his second List A century with the help of a dozen fours and a six.
Pettini has been overlooked at Championship level, with the form of Nick Browne relegating him to the sidelines, but he remains a key figure in the one-day format and produced a forceful 126 from 127 balls before he was fourth out in the 48th over.
Before Pettini's demise, Ravi Bopara also struck two sixes while gathering 39 from 33 balls before he dragged on against Chris Woakes.
The Essex innings finished on a high when Ryan ten Doeschate struck the final delivery over long-on for six as he racked up an unbeaten 21 off 12 balls.
Warwickshire needed a strong start but it proved an unhappy return for Chopra with the skipper caught and bowled by Reece Topley for a golden duck.
The tall left-arm paceman soon claimed Will Porterfield, when the opener holed out to deep square leg.
Only 37 runs were on the board when Tim Ambrose became the third man out as Warwickshire limped to 92-5.
It was left for Jonathan Trott to salvage some pride as he fought to a half-century, only to be immediately out for 51 from 79 balls.
The tail wagged, putting on a further 67 runs in 13 overs, but Essex were soon cruising to victory and gain some consolation for the misery Warwickshire inflicted upon them last season when they triumphed at Chelmsford in the Royal London Cup and Twenty20 Blast.
In the other Group B clash of the night, Lancashire secured their first victory at the third attempt as they beat Middlesex by two wickets at Blackpool, edging past the visitors' 161 with two wickets to spare.
James Faulkner backed up his earlier 2-27 with the ball with a crucial innings of 35 in a seventh-wicket stand of 47 with Jordan Clark, who added an important 29 in the Lancashire cause.
