Pettini paves the way

Mark Pettini's well-constructed half-century provided the foundation for a comfortable Essex victory over Yorkshire in their NatWest Pro40 clash at Chelmsford.

The Eagles captain made 57 off 73 balls as his side got home by five wickets after Yorkshire had been bowled out for a meagre 157.

With Graham Napier confirming his form in the one-day game with 46 from 43 deliveries, Essex were able to reach the winning post with seven overs to spare.

The only substantial contributions in the Yorkshire innings came from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Darren Gough.

Naved struck three of his six fours from successive Napier deliveries and also helped himself to three sixes after arriving following the departure of Andrew Gale in the first over.

He was eighth out after an aggressive innings of 57 from 64 balls, leg-spinner Danish Kaneria claiming his wicket when he held a low return catch.

Captain Mark Pettini hurried Essex to their target of 158 with a timely half-century

When Yorkshire lost their ninth wicket in the 25th over with only 113 on the board, they looked poised for a night of humiliation.

But a last-wicket stand between Gough and David Wainwright produced 44 runs - the best partnership of the innings - to give their total a semblance of respectability.

However, it was never enough for them to avenge the semi-final defeat they suffered on the same ground in the Friends Provident Trophy earlier this month.

Gough's valiant 33 included four boundaries before he fell victim to a smart return catch by Ryan ten Doeschate, who, along with Napier and Kaneria, claimed a couple of wickets.

But Gough had nothing else to celebrate. He made a hash of an attempted catch at long-on when Napier had scored only 14 and he sent down only two deliveries before he limped off with a knee injury, although he did return to field.

Napier, whose innings included seven fours and a six, was finally removed by Richard Pyrah as Jacques Rudolph held a towering catch at long-off. His stand with Pettini was worth 63 in 10 overs.

Ravi Bopara made 16 before he was stumped off Adil Rashid and soon afterwards Pettini's fine innings, which included six fours and a six, came to an end when he was trapped lbw by left-arm spinner Wainwright.

With the help of Anthony McGrath in the slips, Wainwright also removed James Foster, a departure which heralded the arrival of ten Doeschate, who sealed victory with a straight six at the expense of Wainwright.