Late blows aid Essex victory bid

County Championship D2, Chelmsford, day three (stumps):
Essex 404 & 238 v Derbyshire 271 & 188-5
Match scorecard

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Two late wickets made Essex favourites as their battle with Derbyshire at Chelmsford entered its final day.

After the visitors had been left a victory target of 372, they reached the close on 188-5, still 184 short.

But things would have been much rosier for Derbyshire if Essex had not dismissed Dominic Telo and Rikki Clarke in the space of four deliveries.

The fourth-wicket pair had put on 87 before Telo (69) was caught at silly point off leg-spinner Danish Kaneria.

In the next over wicketkeeper James Foster took a magnificent catch, standing up to paceman Ryan ten Doeschate to end Clarke's effort on 44.

Before that double setback, Derbyshire were making a gallant fight to score the highest total in their history to win a Championship game, with Telo and Clarke leading the fightback from 97-3.

Off-spinner James Middlebrook removed Steve Stubbings and Dan Birch following an opening stand of 57, before Kaneria took a superb return catch to end the brief stay of Wavell Hinds.

But Telo and Clarke, wasting no opportunity to punish the wayward delivery, seized the initiative until Essex reasserted their grip in the closing overs.

Earlier, the Essex second innings was built around Ravi Bopara (71) and Ten Doeschate (55no).

Otherwise, Essex's batting was rather casual as Graham Wagg and Charl Langeveldt each finished with four wickets.