Nottinghamshire needed less than two hours of the final day to take the six wickets they required to defeat Essex at Chelmsford, a victory that moves them up to second place in the Specsavers County Championship.
The defending champions began the day on 88 for four and were hoping to provide stubborn resistance and bat out the day for a draw.
Those hopes were immediately extinguished when Matt Milnes and Luke Fletcher each struck within the opening 15 minutes.
Milnes went on to take figures of four for 44 and Fletcher, Gurney and Patel each picked up two wickets as Essex were skittled out for 139.
The 301-run margin of victory was Nottinghamshire’s largest in a county championship match since 1931.
Milnes made the initial breakthrough on another warm, sunny morning, having Ravi Bopara caught behind for 39.
The catch was taken by Tom Keast, again deputising with the gloves for the injured Tom Moores – and the youngster quickly followed up with another grab, with nightwatchman Jamie Porter edging Fletcher.
Gurney’s first ball of the morning splattered Simon Harmer’s stumps and then Adam Wheater chopped on to the same bowler.
Milnes had Coles caught behind and a lengthy final wicket partnership – which yielded only six runs in 45 minutes – was finally ended when Ross Taylor caught Neil Wagner at slip, off Patel.
The 23 point win lifts Notts up to second place in the Division One table, with a home day-night fixture against Worcestershire to come, starting on Monday.
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