Mark Pettini turned in a captain's performance to earn Essex an eight-wicket triumph at home to Middlesex to boost their hopes of reaching the quarter-final stages of the Twenty20 cup.

After Middlesex had been bowled out for 148 in 19.2 overs at Chelmsford, Pettini plundered an unbeaten 80 from 57 balls - with 10 fours and one six.

That represented his highest score in the competition and paved the way for his side to reach the winning post with exactly an over to spare.

Alastair Cook also played his part in leaving champions Middlesex still searching for their first success in this season's competition.

Cook struck 21 in an opening stand of 61. But his England team-mate Ravi Bopara managed only eight before he was caught behind to provide off-spinner Shaun Udal with success.

But that was the last time the men from Lord's had reason to celebrate, Matt Walker staying with Pettini while gathering 34 in 24 deliveries during an unbroken stand of 63 in eight overs.

Middlesex had no one who batted with Pettini's assurance.

They got off to a bad start - losing Neil Dexter, run out by Ryan ten Doeschate's direct throw from cover, and Udal with only eight on the board.

Tyron Henderson struck a belligerent 28 from 23 balls, five of which he dispatched to the boundary - but by then Billy Godleman and Owais Shah had gone.

When Henderson was bowled by Bopara the visitors had lost half their side for 60 - but were revived by Eoin Morgan and Dawid Malan.

They shared a stand of 60 in seven overs before both were dismissed for 31 in the same Grant Flower over.

Malan was caught on the deep square-leg boundary by James Middlebrook, and Morgan was bowled.

It was a gallant effort on their part. But as later events were to prove, it was never enough for the visitors to make a real fight of it.

Pakistan leg-spinner Danish Kaneria emerged as Essex's most successful bowler with three for 23 from 3.2 overs.

He received fine support from Flower and Graham Napier, who had figures of two for 21 and two for 29 respectively.