Essex were frustrated by the the batting of John Sadler and Jim Allenby - as well as the Leicester weather - on day three of the match at Grace Road.

Sadler and Allenby moved the Foxes from 226-4 to 290 without further loss in what play was possible, with their stand now worth a formidable 160.

Essex, who made 486 in their first innings, would have been delighted by events 40 miles away in Northampton.

There, promotion rivals Worcestershire were kept indoors all day by the rain.

With several appeals for lbw rejected, Essex endured 50 minutes of frustration themselves on Friday

Allenby, on his championship debut, hit Andy Bichel for one superb straight six and was then dropped by Alastair Cook at slip in the same over.