Essex claimed a four-wicket win over Northamptonshire with just one ball to spare after they had been set 242 runs for victory in the LV County Championship at Chelmsford.

The winning run came courtesy of a bye after seventh-wicket pair Graham Napier and Tom Westley came together with 37 runs still needed and just four overs remaining after Alastair Cook and John Maunders had put the home side on course with an opening partnership of 130 in 32 overs.

However, an incisive spell from Johan van der Wath, who finished with five for 71, provided problems for Essex as the bowler claimed the first four wickets, all caught by wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien.

Maunders went for 46, Cook for an outstanding 87 from 116 deliveries, Matt Walker for 39 and Ryan ten Doeschate for seven to leave the hosts on 192 for four.

With Andrew Hall bowling Mark Pettini for five and Van der Wath claiming a fifth victim when he dismissed James Foster for five, the match was in the balance with Essex 205 for six.

Twenty-eight runs were required form the final three overs but then Van der Wath conceded a defining 16 runs including a six by Napier and two fours to tilt the balance back towards Essex.

Just three runs were needed from the final over of an enthralling match and although van der Wath yielded just two runs from the first four deliveries, a scrambled bye saw Essex home and lifted them into second place in Division Two.

The visitors were bowled out for 195 in their second innings after a superb spell of bowling at the start of the day's play from paceman Chris Wright fashioned the opportunity for the county's fifth victory in the County Championship this season.

Wright took three for 37 in an eight-over spell to give his side the initiative as the visitors capitulated rapidly from 55 for two to 90 for seven before a 60-run partnership between David Lucas and Andrew Hall bolstered a faltering innings.

Northamptonshire had resumed on 41 for two overnight, a lead of 87, having been credited with two further runs after the scorers had failed to log a no-ball the previous evening.

Wright began the visitors problems in the fifth over of the morning when he had Riki Wessels caught for eight by wicket-keeper Pettini, deputising for regular stumper Foster who sustained a damaged cheekbone in the warm-up to the day's proceedings.

Wright struck again two overs later when Rob White lost his middle stump and then Nicky Boje became the third victim of the day

to fall for eight when Wright encouraged a loose drive that was caught at

cover.

The introduction of Napier into the attack at the opposite end produced immediate reward when, with his third delivery, he removed O'Brien who had attempted to hold the innings together with 38 out of 85 before giving Pettini his second catch with the gloves.

In his next over, Napier removed Van der Wath for a duck to leave Hall

and Lucas applying first aid to an ailing innings.

Pettini did spill Lucas on 18 shortly before substitute Adam Wheater, a recognised keeper, took over the gloves.

It was Danish Kaneria that finally broke the stand when Hall was bowled by a googly for 29 leaving Northants 150 for eight.

Monty Panesar contributed 19 out of 33 before Wright, who finished with four for 43, made him his fourth victim and Napier (three for 46) had last man Lee Daggett caught at slip leaving Lucas stranded on 55 not out.

Essex took 19 points from the match whilst Northamptonshire took four points.