Danish Kaneria was the key figure as Essex boosted their promotion prospects with an easy nine-wicket triumph over LV County Championship rivals Surrey at Colchester.

The Pakistan leg spinner returned figures of six wickets for 50 runs, his best of the season, as the visitors were bowled out for 190 in their second innings.

This left Essex with a victory target of 74 to record their fourth championship victory of the summer in a minimum of 32 overs. They reached it in only 12.4 overs - but not without controversy.

Surrey's Mark Ramprakash resisted for 158 minutes in scoring 62, before he was given out caught behind by James Foster when pushing forward against Kaneria.

Ramprakash was clearly unhappy with the decision. He lingered for a while and was engaged in heated verbal exchanges with the Essex players before making his way back to the pavilion.

The former England batsman later refused to comment about the incident but his dismissal signalled the end of Surrey's hopes of saving the match.

The visitors had resumed the final day on six for two and requiring a further 111 to make Essex bat again.

Michael Brown and Ramprakash were to keep their opponents waiting 26 overs for their first breakthrough of the day.

During that time the third-wicket pair carried the total to 88 before paceman Chris Wright got a delivery to lift off a length and had Brown caught in the gully.

That opened the door for spinners Kaneria and Tim Phillips to make rapid inroads into the innings on a pitch that offered them some encouragement.

When Ramprakash was seventh out with the total on 135, Surrey's hopes of forcing a draw disappeared with him.

Chris Schofield and Stuart Meaker did provide stout resistance following the veteran's departure with an eighth wicket stand of 53 but once it was broken by Kaneria the innings was swiftly brought to an end.

Kaneria claimed his six wickets in 27 overs, 13 of which were maidens, while left-arm spinner Phillips picked up three for 61 in 24 overs.

Leg-spinner Schofield showed the new ball when Essex went in again but never remotely threatened to pose the sort of problems provided by the Essex spinners.

The only success to come Surrey's way fell to fast bowler Jade Dernbach, who had John Maunders caught at slip for 10.

But Tom Westley, who struck an unbeaten 45 from 44 deliveries, seven of which he despatched to the boundary, and Ravi Bopara (16) speeded Essex to a victory which earned them 21 points. Surrey had to settle for six.