Essex claimed their first Pro40 Division One victory of the campaign when they beat Nottinghamshire by 34 runs at Southend.

After posting a total of 224 for eight, Essex bowled out the visitors for 190 in the 37th over.

Ryan ten Doeschate played a major part in the home side's triumph with an unbeaten 64 from 50 deliveries, containing two sixes and three fours.

Most of those runs came during an eighth-wicket partnership of 55 in six overs with Mervyn Westfield whose contribution was 17 from 14 balls.

Before that late flourish, opener Varun Chopra had been the mainstay of the innings with a stylish 51 from 78 balls. He struck only three boundaries but worked the ball into the gaps intelligently before he was fourth out with the total on 115.

He was caught down the leg side by wicketkeeper Chris Read to provide Andy Carter with a success.

The 20-year-old fast bowler was making his senior debut for the county and turned in an impressive performance by emerging with figures of three for 32 from eight lively overs.

Graham Napier, who made 29 from 28 balls, and Tim Phillips were Carter's other victims, while spinner Samit Patel, with two for 37, provided the main support.

Nottinghamshire began encouragingly in their reply and Ali Brown and Mark Wagh had 60 on the board by the 10th over for the loss of only one wicket.

But then the visitors faltered, mainly as a result of some magnificent work by James Foster behind the stumps.

He pulled off superb catches to get rid of Brown and Wagh for 36 and 27 respectively, and went on to finish with five victims, including a neat stumping to remove Darren Pattinson.

After slumping to 107 for five, Nottinghamshire were revived by Patel, who struck out boldly to crack two sixes and three fours while gathering 58 from 70 deliveries.

But once he skied a return catch to Ten Doeschate to be seventh out with the score on 172, Nottinghamshire's hopes disappeared with him.

Paul Franks did manage to strike a few defiant blows, including a six off Ten Doeschate, before he was left stranded on 23 from 26 balls as Danish Kaneria brought the innings to a close.

The Pakistan leg-spinner finished with three for 28 from 7.4 overs as Nottinghamshire were left still searching for their first victory in the competition this season.