ESSEX warmed up for today's two-day friendly with Middlesex with a thumping Cambridge MCCU by 523 runs at Fenner's.

Openers Nick Browne and Jaik Micleburgh put Essex in early command , adding 168 runs for the first wicket in the visitor's first innings, before Tom Westley joined Mickleburgh at the crease.

Mickleburgh was eventually became Joe Tetley's second victim when he was caught for 125, while Ravi Bopara was caught by Adil Arif for three.

Westley retired out on 110 with Essex on 4-357 and Daniel Lawrence (35) and captain Ryan ten Doeschate (22) took Chris Silverwood's team to 416 declared after 85 overs, with Cambridge's Alistair Allchin taking 2-117.

Graham Napier did the main damage with the ball to leave the students' first innings reply in tatters at 124 all out after 40.3 overs.

He took five wickets at a cost of 29 runs from his seven-over spell, while Jamie POrter (2-30), Matt Dixon (2-16) and Callum Taylor also got among the wickets.

Browne and Mickleburgh picked up where they had left off in the first innings as they put on 236 runs for the first wicket, when Browne was caught by Joe Tetley for 101.

Mickleburgh retired out on 102 and Bopara added 30 runs before being bowled by Alex Waghorn.

Daniel Lawrence retired out on 76 and ten Doeschate added an unbeaten 47 as Taylor (1), Napier (6), Jamie Porter (4) and Matt Dixon (0no) took Essex to 409-7 declared after 66 overs.

Dixon claimed 3-35 and Porer (2-40), ten Doeschate (2-15), Bopara (2-26) and Napier (1-50) did the damage with the ball as Cambridge were bowled out for 178 in their second innings, with Harrison Palmer and Alistair Allchin top scoring with 32 runs each.

Today's match at the County Ground starts at 11am.