ESSEX wrapped up their pre-season friendlies with a comfortable 335-run win over Cambridge MCCU.
The county resumed on 130-2 this morning at Fenners before declaring on 250-9 and then bowling the students out for 125.
England skipper Alastair Cook added three runs to his overnight 57 before becoming the first of the visitors' wickets to fall.
He was swiftly followed by fellow England player Ravi Bopara to leave Essex on 138-4, before Ben Foakes hit 15 to help Essex to 154-5.
Greg Smith added a valuable 28 before becoming the sixth victim, with Graham Napier (5), David Masters (0) and Monty Panesar (10) also perishing.
Captain James Foster (27) and Tymal Mills (25) were still at the crease when the declaration came after Zain Shahzad (3-53) and Alasdair Pollock (3-82) had led the attack.
Foster caught openers James Johnson and Adil Arif to give Masters his only two victims of the match and reduce Cambridge to 2-23.
Tom Elliott (5) fell lbw to Bopara, who then bowled Chad Yates (4) and had Adam Mansfield (5) lbw to claim figures of 3-21 and leave Cambridge at 5-55.
Panesar trapped Shahzad (13) lbw and then claimed the wicket of Nipuna Senaratne (32), who was caught by Tom Westley.
Winter signing Panesar made it 3-26 when Jaik Mickleburgh caught Pollock after he contributed four runs.
Ellison's 32-run defiance was ended when he was bowled by Napier, who then bowler Paddy Sadler (6) to finish with figures of 2-11.
Adam Barton was left unbeaten on one as Essex bowled their hosts out for 125 in 42.5 overs.
Foster's men start their County Championship campaign on Sunday when Derbyshire visit Chelmsford.
Scores: Essex 300-9 dec & 250-9 dec. Cambridge MCCU 90 & 125. Essex won by 335 runs.
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