Essex made 209 for seven off their 45 overs. But it was looking bleak for the Eagles when Kevin Dean ripped through the top order, removing Will Jefferson, Ronnie Irani, Darren Robinson and Mark Pettini to finish with figures of four for 33.

Essex were 61 for four midway through the 18th over. But their middle and lower order batsmen steadied the ship, with Flower's dogged innings the turning point.

The partnership between Flower and John Stephenson held out for 68, until Mathew Dowman came on and accounted for Stephenson, leg before for 30. It was left to Jon Dakin to keep the runs flowing and he made a valuable 45 off 41 balls. He and James Middlebrook saw out the allocated overs and added 46 together, including 31 off the last two overs.

Essex's Irani, having disappointed with the bat, led the visitors' fightback by claiming the scalps of both Derbyshire openers. Sutton finished as the home side's top scorer with 29 off 41 deliveries, eventually falling lbw to Andrew McGarry.

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