Westley on a high as Essex’s surprise packages go top

COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP

Tom Westley’s phenomenal unbeaten century steered Essex to the top of the table following an emphatic eight-wicket win over Surrey at Guildford yesterday.

Westley registered 108 not out from 168 balls while Nick Browne contributed an important 77 from only 96 deliveries as Essex made light of a victory target of 253 from a minimum of 83 overs.

They reached the total in 64.2 overs with Westley putting on an unbroken 105-run third-wicket stand with Dan Lawrence, who finished with 32 not out, to lead Essex home shortly after tea on the final afternoon.

On a wearing pitch, Surrey had been dismissed for 288, with Ben Foakes left stranded on 65 against his former employers, before Essex cruised to their third victory of the season.

Since gaining promotion last year, Essex have surprised the rest of the top division with their early-season success. This was a comprehensive win against a team who had led Division One until the last round of matches and was achieved despite seamer Matt Quinn suffering a back spasm on day one which has prevented him from bowling since.

Essex’s win meant they leapfrogged Yorkshire, now six points behind, who had briefly replaced Hampshire at the top following a three-run victory over

Somerset at Taunton.

Somerset, chasing 262, fell just short as Jamie Overton clipped Adam Lyth to midwicket to end a chase that included fifties for Adam Hose and Steven Davies.

While Lyth took two important wickets, veteran seamer Ryan Sidebottom was the star of the show with three second-innings wickets completing match figures of eight for 115.

Somerset are still without a win this season, as are champions

Middlesex following an eight-wicket defeat by Lancashire at Southport, where spinner Steven Parry took five for 45 to dismiss the visitors for 236 in their second innings.