Essex made light of an ever-deepening injury crisis as the gained a slim initiative on day one of their match against the only team they have beaten this season.

Realistically, both bottom-place Nottinghamshire and Essex can expect to be playing in the Second Division in 2004.

But Jon Dakin's four-wicket haul and a composed unbeaten 33 from Andy Flower kept the wolf from the door for the home side, at least for the time being.

Four visiting batsmen managed scores between 40 and 70, but Dakin, well assisted by Andy Clarke, always kept Essex just about on top.

Clarke had just been put in a hugely awkward position as his county revealed his contract for next season was still on the line.

But after removing Jason Gallian and Paul McMahon with consecutive balls, the glory moment just eluded the popular seamer from Brentwood.

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.