Essex picked up the six Northamptonshire wickets they needed on the final day to secure their second County Championship win of the season, by an innings and 92 runs.

With Northamptonshire four down by lunch, Ryan ten Doeschate (four for 31) and Graham Napier returned to wrap up the victory within 17 balls after the break.

Essex got their day off to a flying start, as Jamie Porter picked up his eighth wicket of the match, Richard Levi, fending to point where Dan Lawrence took a fine catch.

This brought Adam Rossington, who made an unbeaten 67 and was Northants’ main source of resistance on the third day, to the crease. In the company of nightwatchman Azharullah, Rossington shared 21 in 17 overs until ten Doeschate pinned him leg before playing back.

At the other end, Azharullah had lived a rather charmed life, edging just short of Alastair Cook at first slip in the day’s first over, before just falling short of fourth slip. Between times, when Azharullah was on six, James Foster shelled a tough chance off the same bowler.

David Murphy came and went to ten Doeschate, before the Essex captain ended Azharullah’s resistance as he was adjudged LBW.

Essex extended the session by 15 minutes in pursuit of the final two wickets.

The win was secured almost immediately after the break.

Gleeson miscuesd ten Doeschate straight to fine-leg 14 balls after lunch, and while Kleinveldt hammered him down the ground for four next ball, Napier returned to finish the job, castling Ben Sanderson with a perfect yorker second ball to secure Essex’s place atop of Division Two going into their game at Worcestershire.

After the game, Essex skipper Ryan ten Doeschate said: “We couldn’t have asked for a lot more. Last week at Sussex was draining and we were left disappointed but proud of the way we played.

“We beat Northampton and the weather this week which was very pleasing indeed. We looked at this first four games as a block, and then to reassess after the tour game.

“So far we have been very good, playing very well almost every day, but there is a long way to go yet. We are totally happy with how guys are going, from no1 to the guys in the second team.”

He added: “It’s not always easy to know when to bowl yourself as captain and I see myself as the sixth seamer in this side, and if I can do that sort of job when things do go flat and nick a few wickets here and there, it’s going to help our top bowlers.

“They bowled really well this morning but just couldn’t get a wicket, and that’s where guys like me come in, trying to break a partnership for give us a bit of momentum.