ESSEX won within two days for the second time in a row as they beat Leicestershire by an innings and 79 runs at Grace Road.
James Foster enjoyed back-to-back centuries to guide the Eagles to 334, before bowling the hosts out for 117.
Foster and Ravi Bopara reconvened on 153-3 but Bopara fell just before his half-century, being bowled for 49.
Kishen Velani and Graham Napier fell quickly before David Masters offered the Essex skipper some support in the middle order.
Foster reached his fantastic century, before Masters (26) and then Monty Panesar (1) departed in quick succession.
The Eagles captain reached 138, including 19 fours and two sixes, before he was eventually caught off the bowling of Charlie Shreck, Essex all out for 334.
The Essex bowlers then picked up from where they had left off, making light work of the host's batting line-up.
Jamie Porter grabbed the opening three wickets of Angus Robson (26), Ed Eckersley (1)and Dan Redfern (0) before Monty Panesar got Greg Smith LBW for 36.
After that it was a mere procession, with Rob Taylor falling for 6 and Niall O'Brien (0), Jigar Naik (0) and Josh Cobb (37) all falling with the score on 115.
Atif Sheikh (2) went just two runs later and the final wicket was wrapped up by Masters for the same score of 117 all out.
Porter (3-26), Masters (3-15) and Jesse Ryder (3-40) grabbed the majority of the wickets, with Panesar (1-9) clinching the last one.
That victory puts Essex on level points with Hampshire for the final promotion spot and with the South-Coast team being frustrated by Kent in their penultimate match, the final game against Worcestershire could be crucial.
