A century by Ryan ten Doeschate rescued Essex from another batting failure and put them in control of the Championship Division Two match at Derby.

The all-rounder made 132 after Essex had collapsed to 57-5 against a below-strength Derbyshire attack.

Andy Bichel followed up his seven wickets with 74 out of a seventh-wicket stand of 122 with ten Doeschate.

Essex were finally all out for 268, leaving Derbyshire 402 to win, and at the close they were 104-3.

Ten Doeschate's third hundred of the season came off 153 balls, while Bichel hit two sixes and 10 fours before he top-edged a sweep at Needham in the last over before tea.

Ten Doeschate was last out trying to hit his fourth sixth, leaving Derbyshire needing to make the biggest fourth innings total in their history to win.