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Beau Webster’s all-round performance proved decisive as Warwickshire secured a hard-fought 41-run win over Essex.

Beau Webster delivered a decisive late impact to steer Warwickshire to their first win of the County Championship season, sealing a 41-run victory over Essex at Edgbaston.

The Tasmanian allrounder had already shaped the match with the bat, top-scoring across both sides with 91 in the second innings on a difficult surface.

That effort helped Warwickshire set Essex a target of 206, which proved just beyond reach.

Essex resumed at 0-11 on Monday but quickly faltered. Keith Barker struck early, including a triple-wicket maiden, as the visitors slumped to 4-21 and then 7-82.

A brief resistance followed, led by Luc Benkenstein and later Simon Harmer, who combined with Zaman Akhter in a 51-run stand to revive hopes.

With the game drifting, Webster returned to the attack and broke through. He removed Harmer for 32 with a catch at second slip, then dismissed Akhter for 35 attempting a ramp shot, effectively ending the chase and confirming Warwickshire's win.

Elsewhere, Jake Lehmann's twin half-centuries were not enough to prevent Hampshire slipping to a two-wicket loss against Somerset at Southampton.

Chasing 286, Somerset were guided home by Tom Abell, who anchored the innings and reached a century to secure victory.

In Division Two, James Anderson produced match figures of 7-63 as Lancashire defeated Gloucestershire by four wickets at Bristol.

The result came despite Cameron Bancroft's side seeing Marcus Harris fail in both innings.

At Northampton, Sam Robson's 162 ensured Middlesex held on for a draw against Northamptonshire, with any chance of a result fading well before the final stages.