County Championship D1, Chelmsford, day two (close): Nottinghamshire 284 & 71-2 v Essex 335England Under-19 off-spinner Paul McMahon saw off a stubborn Essex tail as Notts moved into a slender 20-run lead at Chelmsford.
Despite half-centuries to Andy Flower and James Foster, Essex looked to be in trouble when they slumped to 175-6.
But James Middlebrook (34), Jon Dakin (47) and Andy Clarke (32 not out) helped Essex emerge 51 runs ahead on first-innings scores.
It took McMahon, playing in his seventh first-class match, to break down their resistance, and he took four of the last five wickets to return figures of 4-59.
Notts were immediately in trouble in their second innings, falling to 5-1 when Mohammad Akram bowled Darren Bicknell for three.
Skipper Chris Read was caught behind off Andrew Clarke for 27, but Jason Gallian (28 not out) and Russell Warren (10 not out) saw Notts to stumps without any further loss of wickets.
Essex: W I Jefferson, A N Cook, A Flower, M L Pettini, R C Irani (Capt), J S Foster (Wkt), G R Napier, J D Middlebrook J M Dakin, Mohammad Akram, A J Clarke.
Nottinghamshire: D J Bicknell, J E R Gallian (Capt), R J Warren, K P Pietersen, B M Shafayat, C L Cairns, C M W Read (Wkt) P J Franks, S C G MacGill, P J McMahon, C E Shreck.
MMIX
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