Essex secured a 31-run first innings lead after bowling out Derbyshire for 239 on the penultimate day.

They were without South African Andre Nel for much of a rain-hit Friday - the 30-year-old paceman bowled two overs but did not return until after tea.

Jon Sadler made a gutsy 49 but no Derbyshire batsman could get set.

After a rain break, light became the problem and Essex were not able to start their reply, play abandoned with only 44 balls bowled after tea.

Essex's injury worries began when skipper Mark Pettini went down with an eye infection, then Nel had to leave the field with an upper thigh strain.

Steve Stubbings shared an obdurate 58 in 27 overs with Sadler before Chris Wright nipped one back to trap him lbw.

Sadler was on 23 when Tom Westley put down an easy chance at cover, Ravi Bopara the aggrieved bowler.

Wickets tumbled at the other end, but Sadler put up the drawer bridge, scoring only one run in eight overs after lunch.

He was finally caught behind pushing at a lifting ball from Wright, but after a brief stoppage for rain the home tail took their side past 200.

Nel was able to bowl at the start of the final session and removed Tom Lungley with a nasty rising delivery, before the innings ended when Jon Clare was caught at first slip.