Essex won the 50 overs match at Chelmsford yesterday by 171 runs after piling up 359 for six off their 50 overs and restricting the Irish to 188 for seven.

Opener Robinson followed unbeaten scores of 129 and 137 in his previous limited overs matches this season with 114 off 132 balls, hitting 14 fours and one six.

Robinson's opportunities were always limited while Gooch was opening for Essex but, with the former England captain now retired, he has come into his own.

Cup holders Surrey might have been expected to make at least 300 against the British Universities at the Oval, but had to settle for 263 before winning by 85 runs.

Alec Stewart, expected to be named as the new captain of England today, made only 19 but international team-mates Graham Thorpe (58) and Adam Hollioake (55) sustained themomentum.

Results

At Derby: Yorkshire 271-7 (D Lehman 102 not out, A McGrath 55) bt Derbyshire 235-9 (K Barnett 56) by 36 runs. Yorkshire two points.

At Chelmsford: Essex Essex 359-6 (D Robinson 114, N Hussein 71, R Irani 69) bt Ireland 188-7 by 171 runs. Essex two points.

At Bristol: Gloucestershire 234-7 bt Somerset 208 in 48 overs by 26 runs. Gloucestershire two points.

At Leicester: Warwickshire 263-6 (D Brown 60, T Penney 57 no) lost to Leicestershire 269-7 in 49.3 overs (P Simmons 89, I Sutcliffe 50) by 36 runs. Leicestershire two points.

At Northampton: Nottingshamshire 272-7 (G Archer 70, P Johnson 69) by Northamptonshire 237 in 47.4 overs (K Curran 71) by 35 runs. Nottingshamshire two points.

At the Oval: Surrey 263 in 49.1 overs (G Thorpe 58, A Hollioake 55) bt British Universities 158 in 43.5 overs by 105 runs. Surrey two points.

At Worcester: Scotland 140 in 47.1 overs lost to Worcestershire 141-4 in 27.3 overs (G Hick 61 not out, T Moody 51) by seven wickets.Worcestershire two points.