Westley helps put Gladiators to the sword at Chelmsford
Last updated: 4th June 2012 
Ravi Bopara: Hit 120 not out as Essex secured their first Group A victory of the season
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Ravi Bopara gave the England selectors a timely nudge by hitting a brilliant 120 not out as Essex beat Gloucestershire by eight wickets at Chelmsford.
A leg injury had ruled Bopara out for three weeks but he was soon showing that his lay-off had not affected him as he led the hosts to their target of 225 to earn their first Clydesdale Bank 40 Group A victory of the season.
He immediately took charge with a succession of superbly timed drives and - with Tom Westley striking the ball equally well at the other end - it soon became clear that Gloucestershire's total of 224-5 was not nearly enough.
The pair had come together after Mark Pettini's
departure in the first over, when he was caught at slip off Ian Saxelby without a run on the board, and went on to share a partnership of 185.
departure in the first over, when he was caught at slip off Ian Saxelby without a run on the board, and went on to share a partnership of 185.Enterprising knock
Westley's enterprising knock of 82 from 99 balls was ended as he was stumped off Will Gidman but Bopara went on to complete his century from 91 deliveries, with two sixes and eight fours.
He was to add another four boundaries in the closing stages as Essex secured their first win in any competition since April 15 with 19 balls to spare.
Earlier, the visitors started slowly and needed 27 overs to send their total into three figures before Kane Williamson and Ian Cockbain injected much-needed life into the innings with a fifth-wicket partnership of 85 in 11 overs.
It ended when Williamson was caught behind by James Foster off David Masters for 77, which came from 73 deliveries and contained seven fours and a six.
off David Masters for 77, which came from 73 deliveries and contained seven fours and a six.
Cockbain and Jack Taylor maintained the tempo over the remaining four overs, Cockbain finishing unbeaten on 52 from 44 balls with a six among his four boundaries, but it was too low to pose Essex difficulty.
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