Half-centuries from Robin Smith and Derek Kenway paved the way for Hampshire's convincing six-wicket victory over Essex at Colchester in the National League.

The visitors, replying to a total of 184 for eight, made light work of their target against an attack lacking Mark Ilott, Ashley Cowan and Ricky Anderson.

Smith and Kenway laid the foundations with a series of superb strokes during an opening partnership which produced 120 at the rate of five an over.

It was finally broken when off-spinner Tim Mason had Kenway caught behind for 56, an innings spanning 68 deliveries.

Smith followed soon afterwards, also caught behind but this time against left-arm spinner Paul Grayson, after making 62. His 81-ball effort contained six fours.

The visitors were to lose two more wickets before getting past the winning post but Essex will derive very little consolation for that.

The home side never got into their stride when they batted first.

Paul Prichard and Stuart Law were removed by Dimitri Mascarenhas without reaching double figures, and that paved the way for fast bowler Alan Mullally to impose his authority.

He turned in figures of 4-30, his best in the competition this season as the Essex batsmen flattered to deceive.

Ronnie Irani and Stephen Peters were both dismissed in the 20s while seeking to accelerate and it was left to Grayson and Danny Law to give the final total an air of respectability.

Grayson made 37 from 41 deliveries before becoming one of Mullally's victims, while Law hit Shaun Udal for two sixes while making an unbeaten 34 from 30 balls.

But it was to prove in vain and Hampshire were left wishing they could play Essex every week.

They beat them by the same margin when the counties met in the competition earlier in the season and also inflicted a five-wicket defeat on them in the Benson & Hedges cup in April.

Scoreboard

ESSEX

Prichard c Kenway b Mascarenhas 5

S Law b Mascarenhas 8

Napier c Mascarenhas b Mullally 11

Irani b Tremlett 24

Peters c & b Udal 21

Grayson c Udal b Mullally 37

Foster c Kenway b Mullally 12

D Law not out 34

Mason c White b Mullally 7

Bishop not out 16

Extras (b1, lb4, w4) 9

TOTAL (8wkts, 45ovs) 184

FoW: 1-13, 2-23, 3-28, 4-70, 5-82, 6-124, 7-124, 8-150.

Bowling: Morris 9-0-33-0, Mascaren- has 9-1-35-2, Mullally 9-1-30-4, Tremlett 9-0-29-1, Udal 9-1-52-1.

HAMPSHIRE

Kenway c Foster b Mason 56

Smith c Foster b Grayson 62

White lbw b Bishop 18

Laney c Mason b Irani 30

Kendall not out 8

Prittipaul not out 1

Extras (lb4, w9) 13

TOTAL (4wkts, 36.3ovs) 188

FoW: 1-120, 2-136, 3-164, 4-181.

Bowling: Irani 8.3-0-34-1, D Law 8-1-36-0, McGarry 4-0-19-0, Mason 8-0-42-1, Bishop 4-0-29-1, Grayson 4-0-24-1.

Points: Essex 0, Hampshire 4.

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