IT would have taken a particularly special response for Derbyshire to overhaul a particularly special innings in last night's Pro40 League match at the County Ground.

Set an imposing 305 to beat Essex and extend their unbeaten start in the competition to a second match, it was no great surprise that they fell short – but they gave it a really good go.

Essex won the match by 25 runs after the Phantoms were restricted to a mere 279-8.

It was the highest aggregate number of runs ever in a 40-over match involving Derbyshire, and would have been their highest total in the competition had they made it to their target.

It was to their huge credit that it was not until fairly late in the chase that a Derbyshire victory could be ruled out.

Rikki Clarke put his dip in form behind him to hit a defiant 69 off 45 balls, with 11 fours, after half-centuries from Chris Rogers and Wavell Hinds had given the home side a sniff of an unlikely win.

But nothing the Phantoms could muster could match the efforts of Ravi Bopara for Essex.

The 23-year-old came to the crease with his side in a pretty handy position at 143-1 in the 24th over and absolutely demolished the Derbyshire bowling for a memorable 112 not out.

Bopara's double-century in a 50-over match at Leicester earlier this season was apparently a sight to behold and this was another reminder that here we have a talent capable of serving England well for a very long time.

His first 50 came off 38 balls; his second took only 16 more.

In all, he faced 59 deliveries and hammered nine fours and seven sixes.

The Derbyshire bowling did get ragged under pressure in the later stages of the innings – with the 38th over bowled by Graham Wagg going for four sixes and 26 runs – but against a player of this much ability in this kind of mood, there isn't much many bowlers can do to stop him.

It almost went forgotten that Jason Gallian batted through for 108 not out off 102 balls, with 11 fours, and that Mark Pettini's 73 off 80 balls with 10 fours was in no small way an influence on a very good total.

Everyone was in Bopara's shadow this time.

For Derbyshire to have any chance of following that not only called for a steady flow of runs, it called for steady nerves too.

The wicket was excellent, with much more pace than usual, and the outfield was quick, so the runs were there.

Rogers and Dan Birch gave the Phantoms the start they needed with a first-wicket stand of 75 after they also got the slice of luck they needed when the Australian was dropped on four at slip.

Inevitably, Bopara broke the stand as his slower ball deceived Birch on 39.

As if he needed an extra effort to clinch the man of the match award, Bopara's medium pace was to bring him 4-52 in seven overs.

The crucial wicket for Derbyshire was their second.

Hinds had moved to 53 with a six when he pulled the next ball to deep midwicket.

Tim Phillips just kept his feet inside the boundary to catch it and had the good presence of mind to toss it to Chris Wright as he realised he was about to fall over the rope.

It was a tight decision for the third umpire but the correct one.

Rogers was out in the next over for 59 and, for all Clarke's gallant endeavour, the mounting asking rate proved just too much for Derbyshire after that.