Wright stuff turns it for Essex

Chris Wright was the hero at Chelmsford as Essex produced an unlikely two-wicket victory against his former county Middlesex in the championship second division.

All-rounder Wright, who quit Lord's during the winter after failing to establish a place with Middlesex, scored 71 not out batting at No 10 to guide Essex home.

When Wright had arrived at the crease, Essex were 202 for eight and 97 runs from victory.

But the ice-cool 22-year-old and James Middlebrook (33 not out) weathered everything that Middlesex's attack could throw at them.

Wright reached a 74-ball half-century that included nine boundaries and he celebrated by lofting Shaun Udal into the River Stand for six. The off-spinner later suffered the same fate at the hands of Middlebrook as Essex closed in on their target.

Ian Bell missed out on the chance to spend time in the middle ahead of next week's opening Test against New Zealand when he was dismissed cheaply at Derby.

The England batsman had the perfect opportunity to get in some practice after Derbyshire had set Warwickshire an unlikely target of 378 off 69 overs.

Only four of those had been bowled when Bell came out to bat, but he managed only 28 before he was dismissed by slow left-arm spinner Nayan Doshi.