GLOUCESTERSHIRE fell to their first defeat of the season as Essex won by seven wickets in three days at Bristol.

It didn’t take long for Essex to get the final Gloucestershire wicket as they ended on 119 all out giving the visitors a modest target of 98 for victory.

The county made a good start with the ball and reduced Essex to 6-2 with Steve Kirby having Varun Chopra caught by Craig Spearman for one and Jon Lewis trapping Jaik Mickleburgh lbw for a duck but it ultimately proved too big a job.

Spearman took another catch to remove Jason Gallian off the bowling of Ian Saxelby to make it 46-3 but MatthewWalker (48*) and Mark Pettini (28*) led Essex comfortably home.

Gloucestershire meet Surrey in the Friends Provident Trophy at Bristol on Sunday.