ESSEX batsman Mark Pettini believes all his hard work is finally paying off after enjoying a successful start to the T20 Blast season.
The 30-year-old opener has scored 298 runs at an average of 42.57 to help the Eagles soar to the top of the South Group table.
And the destructive batsman continued his good form in Friday's five-wicket win over Surrey, striking 42 from 29 balls.
Pettini said: "I have worked hard on the one-day skills over the winter and as the season has gone on and it is nice that has translated into runs in the middle. It is also good to take games to the end and win them for the side.
"It is nice to get off to good starts. Those first six overs is an important part of the game and we often say that if we can win those then we have good chance of winning the game.
"We have started the competition slowly at times in the past but this year we have hit the ground running and it is really important we do that. As soon as we can qualify then that is great but then we look to get into the top two so we get a home tie as well."
Essex managed to restrict Surrey to just 165 on a good track at Chelmsford, with the Eagles knocking off the runs with nine balls to spare.
Essex have won every game in which they have had to chase totals down this season, with their only defeat coming when they had to set a score against Hampshire.
However, Phillips believes that they have the team to deal with any situation.
He added: "It was a target that we definitely felt that we could chase down and we were happy at half-time. With the batting line-up we have got we back ourselves to chase any total, to be honest, but it was a great effort from the bowlers to restrict them to 165.
"It is going to be a challenge for us when the time comes to set a total but with our batting line-up we absolutely feel we are up for that. I believe that the bowlers can also defend scores so it should be no problem."
The Eagles continue their T20 Blast campaign next Saturday as they take on Kent in the Battle of the Bridge II at the Colchester festival.
