Andre Nel unleashed a devastating burst with the new ball as Essex finally showed some spirit late on day two of the Division Two match with Middlesex.

After the visitors had established a first-innings lead of 95 runs, the South African tore in, taking all three wickets to reduce Middlesex to 19-3.

His extra pace and bounce accounted for Andrew Strauss, Shaun Udal and Ed Smith, who completed a pair.

Earlier, young Middlesex paceman Danny Evans took a superb 6-35 at Chelmsford.

The tall Durham-born 20-year-old was rewarded for his accuracy on a pitch which afforded encouraging bounce throughout the day.

Essex were bowled out for 207, their last six wickets tumbling in the space of 27 runs.

Four of those fell to Evans, while South African paceman Vernon Philander provided the main support with 3-45.

The only prolonged resistance came from Jason Gallian (56) and 19-year-old Tom Westley, who made 60.

Alastair Cook, who has batted without great fluency this season, fell to Philander on 25, dismissed lbw while trying to work a ball off his legs.