A peripatetic, Japanese-speaking, saxophone-playing, World Cup skier and left-arm seam bowler, who goes by the nickname “Diggler”, demolished Essex's top order and propelled Middlesex to their third successive victory to keep them top of the South division. For the second time in four days Middlesex skittled a clueless Essex side, knocking off the runs with 23 balls remaining.

Dirk Nannes, from Melbourne, but playing for Middlesex on his Dutch passport, took the seventh hat-trick in the Twenty20 Cup to reduce Essex to 20 for five after five overs.

Although aged 32, Nannes, who represented Australia at mogul skiing, has played only 12 first-class matches. He removed Jason Gallian's middle stump with the fifth ball of the game before returning ir the fifth over and yorked Varun Chopra, bowled Grant Flower and dismissed Ryan ten Doeschate leg-before.

Ed Joyce, captain in the absence of the injured Ed Smith, stuck to the plan of bowling Nannes in one-over spells and Essex recovered. It looked like a mistake at the time. James Foster got into his stride when Nannes returned and he went for 13 and then 11 in two overs. Graham Napier hit 31 off 17 balls and Foster reached his 50.

In reply, Middlesex never had to break sweat. Billy Godleman and Dawid Malan gave them a base and Tyron Henderson, the South African Kolpak all-rounder, struck an unbeaten 64 off 30 balls.

Scoreboard

Essex
V Chopra b Nannes 15
J E R Gallian b Nannes 0
J D Middlebrook st Scott b Henderson 2
N J Dexter st Scott b Kartik 7
G W Flower b Nannes 0
R N ten Doeschate lbw b Nannes 0
*J S Foster not out 50
D D Masters c Morgan b Udal14
G R Napier b Henderson 31
Danish Kaneria b Henderson 2
M A Chambers run out 4
Extras (lb 4, w 1, nb 2) 7

Total (20 overs) 132

Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-13, 3-20, 4-20, 5-20, 6-42, 7-87, 8-124, 9-126.

Bowling: Nannes 4-1-28-4; Murtagh 4-0-34-0; Henderson 4-0-27-3; Kartik 4-0-21-1; Udal 4-0-18-1.

Middlesex
B A Godleman b Ten Doeschate 30
D J Malan c Flower b Masters 23
E J G Morgan c Napier b Chambers 5
T Henderson not out 64
*E C Joyce not out 4
Extras (b 4, lb 2, w 1) 7

Total (3 wkts, 16.1 overs) 133

D M Housego, S D Udal, B J M Scott, T J Murtagh, M Kartik and D P Nannes did not bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-43, 2-49, 3-102.

Bowling: Napier 3.1-0-21-0; Masters 4-0-29-1; Kaneria 4-0-38-0; Chambers 2-0-25-1; Ten Doeschate 3-0-14-1.

Umpires: S A Garratt and G Sharp.