ESSEX endured a long and tiring day in the field at Derby in their LV County Championship clash – and then had to endure a nervous start to their second innings.

Thankfully for Essex they did not lose any wickets, with Jaik Mickleburgh conjuring up two fours for his 11 runs and Alastair Cook making nine.

But the main task was survival in this four day game which had seen Essex crumble to just 179 all out, in their first innings.

Yesterday they got their chance to use their bowling attack, but the home side still clawed their way to 288 in 86 overs.

Things had not looked good for Essex early on when opener Madsen built a score of 51 before he was trapped LBW.

The next four wickets fell relatively cheaply to the skill and determination of David Masters who was by far the strongest of the Essex bowlers. His deliveries proved too tricky for the Derbyshire top order.

James Foster took two catches and Masters finished the day with figures of 5-71.

Derbyshire mounted a late and, from Essex’s point of view frustrating, mid-order fightback when Redfern, Smith and Sutton added well over a century between them.

But at catch by Matt Walker off the bowling of Masters and a wicket for Wright finally sent the Derbyshire tail order packing and gave Essex the chance to hold their ground.

It was a nervous time, but the Essex openers determination to sick around.

Essex finished on 24 without loss and wiell need to stick around and score plenty of runs today.