ESSEX’s Aaron Beard has praised the club’s recent performances after they beat Surrey making it two wins in a row.

The Eagles beat Surrey by 43 runs, in a game that saw beard earn his best ever career figures of 4/29 from his four overs.

The bowler has admitted he could not have asked for more and that his bowling spell was something that he dreamed of as a child.

Beard said: "We've had two perfect team performances in two nights. That was an exceptional performance in front of a big home crowd against a team like Surrey with their big names. It showed the Essex way, that we all fight for each other, whoever is scoring runs or wickets.

"One of our big things is partnerships and tonight was nearly the perfect performance. Rotating the strike is key as well like Walter can be on 20 before you look at the scoreboard.

"I'm in the team to take wickets early on and swing the ball and bowl nice and full. I am happy to take early wickets as that sets the powerplay up really nicely for us and put them on the back foot.

"A PB tonight, I couldn't ask for much more.

“A career-best, at home, on a Friday night and against Surrey is what I dreamed of when I was younger.

"I've had a tough 18 months with form and injuries coming at the wrong time and trying too hard. But now I'm trying to back myself and have confidence in what I do and it seems to be paying off. Opportunities is what I'm crying out for to prove to the dressing room and the home fans what I'm all about."

From the opposition, head coach Gareth Batty suggested that his side did not get it right as Surrey succumbed to two losses in two nights, having been beaten by Sussex the night before.

He said: "T20 cricket isn't an exact science. A few of the players have gone off to England duty and we haven't quite got it right when it comes to out game plan but we're still very confident about our skills and two defeats isn't the end of the world.

"It is really good for Reece to take four wickets against his old county and he's showing some form which is great for what is coming up from an England and Surrey point of view.

"Tom Lawes is going to be a wonderful young cricketer. He went relatively well tonight and numbers can tell lies. What we saw from a young fella getting amongst it in the game really impressed us.

"I think seven or eight overs we were right where we wanted to be and then we lost a couple of wickets within 10 balls and that is where the game changed.

“When you are chasing 200 you probably need somebody to get 70 plus or everybody to chip in with quick 30s. We just missed a beat and we move on.

"You are only ever a game away from having momentum in T20 cricket. You need to keep believing and have faith in the way you play. We didn't get it right tonight and Essex were good. We take it on the chin and move forward."