Middlesex beat Essex by 50 runs in a Pro40 friendly match at the sun-soaked Ford County Ground yesterday.

Despite collapsing to 86 for six, Middlesex’s eventual total of 215 was enough to beat the home side comfortably.

The difference between the sides was the batting of Middlesex’s new all-rounder Steven Crook, who came in at eight and smashed 55 off 34 balls. Alongside youngster Adam Rossington, the pair put on 89 for the seventh wicket to build a solid score.

Essex were on top for the first 25 overs.

After a tight opening five overs, it was Graham Napier who made the breakthrough, bowling Dawid Malan for 12.

Sam Robson, who tried to hold together the middle order, made 41 off 64 balls but lost three partners in the space of three overs when Simpson, captain Dexter and Scollay all departed cheaply off the bowling Tymal Mills and Greg Smith.

Then Michael Comber got the crucial wicket of Robson, who would have been furious with his dismissal. Robson chipped straight to Tom Westley at mid wicket after initially anchoring the innings.

After Ollie Rayner had gone, it was down to Rossington to rebuild the innings.

Crook, promoted up the order, was to play a crucial role in setting a good total. Crook’s first ball was hit for four and it was the start of a counter attack on the Essex bowlers, with Tim Phillips, in particular, taking punishment with one of his overs going for 14 runs.

Crook then smashed a huge six off Michael Comber, which went over the member’s stand as he and Rossington rebuilt the innings. But a couple of balls after Rossington had joined the act and hit a six himself, his partner was out. Mills got the wicket, with Phillips taking the catch, and claimed three for 63.

Rossington tried to boost Middlesex from 175for eight to a respectable total and he did, top-scoring with 63 off 66 balls before departing with his side on 215 for nine, with Napier getting his wicket. Anthony Ireland was the next batsmen in and he smashed the next delivery straight up and James Foster took a good catch to end the innings three balls early.

Mark Pettini and Tom Westley strolled out to the middle aiming to get Essex off to a good start. Pettini, in particular, took the attack to Middlesex, smashing 14 off Toby Rolland-Jones’ first over.

Westley departed in the sixth over for eight, caught by a diving Ollie Rayner at slip off the bowling of Rolland-Jones, who returned figures of four for 29. Jaik Mickleburgh was the next man in and, like Pettini, tried to take the attack to Middlesex. After hitting three fours he was next out, leg before wicket to Robbie Williams for 19.

After a brief 25-run partnership, a flurry of wickets fell for Essex. Adam Wheater was the first of four in an eight-over period. Ireland forcing Wheater to top edge his shot high in the air and Rayner was able to take a good catch at square leg.

Pettini had just reached his half-century when Tom Smith had him plumbleg before wicket. He had looked composed for his 52 off 57 balls, an innings that included five fours and one six.

Greg Smith departed in the same fashion as Pettini, leg before wicket to his namesake Smith for four. Comber then followed, bowled by Williams for nine.

The xxperienced duo of captain Foster and Napier gave the home faithful some hope of victory with an enterprising 47-run partnership in seven overs. Napier had smashed Rayner’s first two overs for 24 runs before the spinner got his revenge with the wicket of Napier caught and bowled for 33 off 18 balls.

Essex lost their next three wickets for just six runs as Rolland-Jones took three wickets to help Middlesex comfortably bowl their hosts out inside 35.2 overs.