Warwickshire enjoyed the best of proceedings on day two of their contest with promotion rivals Essex.

Essex were bowled out for 341 in their first innings, Chris Martin and Boyd Rankin both taking three wickets.

Warwicks lost Darren Maddy for a duck at the start of their reply, but Tony Frost went on to make an unbeaten 121 from 286 balls with 16 boundaries.

He shared a stand of 182 in 57 overs with Jonathan Trott (81) as Warwicks ended the day on top on 277-3.

Navdeep Poonia helped Frost put on 85 for the second wicket before he was caught by Ravi Bopara off James Middlesbrook for 37.

Trott, who scored his runs off 164 balls, fell just before close lbw to Chris Wright, Chris Woakes joining Frost as the nightwatchman.