Date-stamped : 06 May97 - 10:16 Prichard leads by glorious example By Neville Scott at Chelmsford Essex (270-2) bt Somerset (269-8) by 8 wkts SOMERSET`S total, the second highest between first- class counties in this year`s Benson and Hedges Cup, would have defeated most sides. Yet, even on a benign surface, the Essex batsmen moved with an array of bewitching shots to pass the apparently imposing target. Paul Prichard, who made 114 from 102 balls, and Stuart Law, if anything upstaged by his captain`s strokeplay in making 88 from 89, put on 204 in the first 29 overs. The key for Somerset seemed to lie with Mushtaq Ahmed, introduced after 11 overs with 63 already found. Pulled and cut with abandon by Prichard, who has never before batted with the confidence shown this summer, Mushtaq retired to nurse a reported knee niggle after three overs had gone for 31 runs. Thereafter the victory, which takes Essex into the quarter- finals, was never once in doubt. A loose, shellshocked Somerset attack was simply taken apart. Prichard, his benefit and a spine operation behind him, seems to have rediscovered freedom and self-belief, dented long ago after two bad breaks to the same finger. His decision this year, mindful of Graham Gooch`s pending retirement, to take upon himself the opener`s role originally earmarked for Paul Grayson, has brought a certain clarity. Eventually caught behind from an extravagant drive in the 36th over, Prichard`s century, his best in all one-day cricket, included the high proportion of 17 fours, eased to all parts. It left Gooch, a daunting arrival at 234 for two, to assist Nasser Hussain through to success with fully 44 balls to spare. Rarely can Gooch have played so small a part in so crushing an Essex win. Somerset`s earlier approach, Dermot Reeve-inspired, had been to send forth three pinch-hitters in the top six to charge bowlers and complement opener Mike Burns`s intelligently constructed one-day career-best 91 off 109 balls. A simple plan - under one-day rules which seem to invite ever-cruder tactics - it would have worked on most other days but no stand quite gained match-winning substance. With two wickets swiftly falling, Jason Kerr, dropped twice when still only one off successive Mark Ilott balls, helped Burns add 46 in seven overs, as quick as the tempo was to get until the death. It took the best of the day`s bowlers, Ronnie Irani, a Lancastrian, to separate Lancastrians with a wicket maiden, which left Somerset 78 for three after 15 overs. Also removing Mark Lathwell, Irani`s figures were then upset by some entertaining, eccentrically- improvised swiping from Mushtaq, (31), dodgy knee or not. Only when Burns, nominated to open after wonderful pre- season form, fell trying to work an impressive Grayson to leg, did Somerset`s two senior specialists come together at 205 for six. Peter Bowler, however, advanced on Irani next over, and could merely dab a canny, short ball to point. But the long under- estimated Richard Harden stayed until five balls remained, principally responsible for 55 runs coming from the final six overs. Source :: The Electronic Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/) Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com)