A strong final innings showing with the ball saw Essex prevail at Trent Bridge in Nottinghamshire’s Vitality County Championship opener.
Setting Notts a target of 335 to win after their morning declaration, the visitors - led by Sam Cook - showed impressive form in dismissing the Green and Golds for 80 as Cook took a six-wicket haul.
Earlier, Haseeb Hameed’s Nottinghamshire broke the partnership of Shane Snater and Adam Rossington when the former guided Lyndon James into the palms of Dillon Pennington.
After a quick flick to the boundary by the incoming Jamie Porter, Essex opted to spend no further time at the crease and declared on 374/9 with two-and-a-half sessions of the contest remaining.
Hameed and Ben Duckett opened Notts’ second innings, seeking 335 for victory, but Duckett soon departed for 5 courtesy of Sam Cook’s pinpoint delivery.
The skipper and Ben Slater also fell victim to Cook, before first innings centurion Joe Clarke and Matt Montgomery looked to build a crucial partnership to steady the chase.
The pair accumulated 21 between them before Clarke was bowled by Snater for 19, Montgomery succumbing to Cook four overs later.
Jack Haynes, who impressed on his debut innings with a fine score of 77, was unable to replicate his positive first stint at the crease as Jamie Porter found his front pad.
With Cook removing Calvin Harrison and Brett Hutton to clinch his five-fer, Dillon Pennington and Dane Paterson mustered seven runs each before Cook and Porter rounded off a final-day win in West Bridgford for the visitors.
The Green and Golds will look to bounce back with victory on Friday 12 April, when newly promoted Worcestershire visit Trent Bridge for an 11am start.
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