Michael Klinger returned to English cricket with a bang by scoring his best ever Twenty20 score to lead Gloucestershire to a comfortable 34-run Natwest T20 Blast victory over the Essex Eagles.

The Australian hit seven fours and eight sixes on his way to a huge total of 126 not out from just 81 balls in Bristol.

The hosts lost the toss and were put into bat by Essex, but Klinger led from the front with his mighty total. Essex could have removed him earlier, but dropped the 34-year-old on three occasions.

Gloucestershire posted 199-4 from their 20 overs and Essex never threatened. They quickly fell to 10-2 early on as David Payne removed both Eagles openers in the second over.

The middle-order of Tom Westley (67), Ravi Bopara (24) and Ryan ten Doeschate (54) steadied the visitors' innings, but they were always going to come up short and in the end were bowled out for 165 with eight balls remaining.

Gloucestershire are now top of the South Group on four points from three games, while Essex have won just one of their four outings.