Essex Over-50s' cricket team beat Surrey by five wickets in the first round of matches in the ECB championship at Chingford.

Under cloudless skies, Essex won the toss and decided to bowl. Arshad Mughal removed the two openers Evans (21) and Sanderson for(five) and Surrey started on 27 for two.

Surrey recovered through Johnson (49) and Cook (36) before tight bowling from the Essex bowlers turned the innings around. Shahid Iqbal removed the two Surrey batsmen with great work behind the stumps by Chingford’s Kirnon. Richard McGregor claimed two wickets and Surrey finally finished on 176 for six in their 45 overs.

Essex started their innings with blistering pace with former Essex county player Chris Gladwin and Iqbal putting on 52 in no time at all with drives and pulls hitting the boundary ropes with great speed.

This was not to last with Gladwin being stumped for 23 and Iqbal caught for 29. Quick wickets followed for Surrey with Kirnon being bowled for six . Essex captain Peter Rider was caught for 11 and Graham Goodman was stumped for one.

It was now left for the "Bell and Rocky show" to see Essex through to victory with a powerful batting display. They needed 31 runs off six overs and then 24 off five before Lawrie Bell hit the winning runs. He was in outstanding form coupling exquisite drives with clips through midwicket to score an unbeaten 66. .He was supported by Rock’s athleticism and thunderous lofted drives as he hit 31 not out.

Essex's next match is at home to Berkshire this week.

Selector Vic Brooks said: "It was good to start with a win yesterday,even though we made hard work of it. Very few people have played much owing to the weather and the rustiness showed yesterday. Bell and Rocky played well and saw us through.We look forward to the next game against Berkshire."