Anneke Bosch gave a batting masterclass to hit her highest T20 score as the hosts thrashed morning leaders Surrey by nine wickets at the Ambassador Cruise Line Ground.

The former South African Test star dispatched the ball to all parts, hitting 84 not out (1 6 and 13 4s) to allow the hosts to make light work of chasing 185 for victory. Bosch shared an opening stand of 96 with Grace Scrivens, who passed 5000 runs for Essex in making 47, before a partnership of 89 with Jodi Grewcock (47 not out) took Essex home with five balls to spare.

Earlier, Surrey appeared to have posted an imposing 184 for 4 thanks to a career-best 69 not out from Jemima Spence (41 balls 9 4s), while Bryony Smith made 53 (43 balls, 9 4s) the pair sharing a stand of 82 for the third wicket. Sophia Smale proved the best bowler on show from either side with 2-28.

Surrey were aggressive from the get-go having been invited to bat first, Smith and Kira Chathli opening with a flurry of boundaries before Smale bowled the latter with a ball to close to cut.

Laura Harris came and went but from there Smith and Spence took charge. Smith was her belligerent self, any width offered being savagely cut to the point fence and the Surrey skipper also employed the sweep to good effect.

Spence though was the real eye-catcher, an early ramp being followed by another four crunched back over the bowler’s head, those two efforts trumped by a glorious drive creamed through the covers.

Smith won the race to 50 before holing out in the deep, but Spence forged on, getting to her landmark six balls quicker than her skipper.

Spence then plundered three successive fours off Kate Coppack, while Alice Monaghan produced a gem of a cameo (29 from 16) as the visitors posted a challenging target.

Essex were quick to take up the challenge, Bosch first ramping then driving Ryana MacDonald-Gay to the fence, while Scrivens plundered four successive fours off Monagan.

The Essex skipper treated Priyanaz Chatterji with similar disdain as 50 rattled up in 23 balls. Surrey turned to spin in a bid to put the brakes on but Bosch hoisted Kalea Moore for the day’s first six as 75 came from the powerplay.

Confusion over a quick single brought the breakthrough as Scrivens failed to regain her ground, but successive fours took Bosch to 50 as the hosts shrugged off the setback.

Surrey missed a chance for a way back when Grewcock was dropped on seven by Phoebe Franklin, the batter celebrating the reprieve with a trio of boundaries from the wayward Chatterji’s next over.

The belated introduction of Alice Davidson-Richards couldn’t stem the tide either as Essex galloped home.