Ravi Bopara and Tom Westley stole the show on Alastair Cook's return to country cricket as Essex Eagles beat Surrey by six wickets in the T20 Blast at The Oval.
Cook was back in action for Essex before he turns his attention to this summer's Ashes series, but it was Bopara (57) and Westley (55) who led the way with half-centuries as the visitors picked up the victory.
The Eagles made the perfect start as Westley bowled Steven Davies (0) with just the second ball of the match, and the hosts were soon two down when Jason Roy (9), who will join up with the England squad next week, drove David Masters straight to Cook at mid-off.
Kumar Sangakkara led the recovery for Surrey and the Sri Lankan veteran's class was abundantly clear throughout a knock of 58 from 38 balls.
Australian all-rounder Moises Henriques (22) shared a partnership of 57 with Sangakkara before Bopara managed to sneak one through his defence in the 10th over.
Westley returned to take the key wicket when Sangakkara picked out visiting skipper Ryan ten Doeschate at deep square-leg, and Essex kept it tight after his dismissal thanks to some clever bowling with pace off the ball, particularly from Bopara, who took 3-18 off four overs.
After losing Sangakkara in the 15th over, the hosts looked in danger of handing full control to Essex, but Zafar Ansari delighted the fans with a superb 39 not out which included 22 off the final four balls of the penultimate over.
Bopara claimed his third wicket with the last ball of the innings as Gareth Batty (4*) went in search of another maximum before Surrey were forced to settle for 169-8 off their 20 overs.
Cook opened the batting alongside Jesse Ryder (11), who followed a four with a six before seeing Matt Dunn hit the stumps with the final ball of the opening over.
The England skipper showed nice timing with a drive for four, but he was soon back inside when he picked out deep square-leg off the bowling of Dunn with just eight runs to his name.
Westley and Bopara repaired the early damage with a partnership of 115, and when Dunn dropped the former on 29, Essex could sense an opportunity to take the game away from the home side.
Despite scoring relatively slowly in the middle overs, the Essex duo had the freedom to attack before the closing stages of the chase and only a half-chance fell Surrey's way as Sangakkara dropped Bopara at mid-wicket in the 16th over.
The timing of the chase was impressive from the Eagles, but it was a nervy finish as Westley and Bopara departed in successive overs to open the door to Surrey.
However, Ten Doeschate (13*) and James Foster (18*) combined to end Surrey's hopes as Essex clinched the win with three balls to spare.
Callum Mulvihill
