Essex 462 for 9 dec (Critchley 121, Khushi 56*) and 170 for 7 dec (Critchley 52, Aldridge 4-36) beat Somerset 167 (Harmer 5-64) and 269 (Abell 83, Lammonby 59, Porter 3-31) by 196 runss

Fast bowler Cook grabbed two in two with the new ball before Simon Harmer took two more wickets to claim match figures of 8 for 178 and Porter rounded off the tail.

Somerset had batted stoically in the hope of batting out 151 overs, or reach 466 to win, but they were eventually bowled out for 269 with two sessions to spare.

Essex only won two Championship matches at home last season, have gone unbeaten at Chelmsford between September 2018 and September 2022.

The day’s play was preceded by a minute’s silence for the victims of the Nottingham attacks, while players from both teams and the umpires wore black armbands and the flags were at half-mast. The two students who died had links to Essex and Somerset cricket. Barnaby Webber, 19, played for Bishops Hull Cricket Club in Taunton. Grace O’Malley Kumar, 19, played and captained Essex Women from Under-11 to Under-15.

Somerset had shown great fight and grit on the third evening to give themselves of saving a draw, having been bowled out for 167 with a first-innings lead of 295. But Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s dismissal to the final ball of the day swung things strongly in Essex’s favour.

Sam Cook needed just two deliveries to extract a thin edge behind to see off Abell for 83 before a wobble-seamed delivery nipped off the seam and into Kasey Aldridge’s off stump next ball.

Craig Overton navigated a hat-trick ball that teased the outside edge but Rew soon fell to Harmer – who had shared the fresh nut. Left-handed Rew drove at the off-spinner with the edge brilliantly taken at first slip by a fully stretched Alastair Cook.

Matt Critchley took an equally great catch at leg slip when Craig Overton turned Harmer around the corner.

Essex’s second victory of the campaign was confirmed with Matt Henry tickling behind and Josh Davey was sensationally caught behind by Will Buttleman, both off Porter.

Essex take 22 points, to Somerset’s two, to keep their nose in the Championship race.