COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Derby:
CLOSE OF PLAY, DAY TWO: Essex 166-2, Derbyshire 474 (Derbys 5pts, Essex 3pt)
23-26 September

Kaneria claimed a hat-trick to end with figures of 3-114

Essex's promotion hopes hang in the balance despite a spirited fightback against Derbyshire on day two at Derby.

After the hosts began on 368-3, they lost their last seven wickets for 74 runs to be bowled out for 474, Danish Kaneria taking a hat-trick.

Tom Westley (90no) and Matt Walker (50no) then helped the visitors to 166-2 at the close, a deficit of 308.

With Northants closing in on victory over Leicestershire, Essex need to win to be promoted to Division One.

Derbyshire, who could also be promoted with a victory, began the day with captain Chris Rogers unbeaten on 204.

But when he lofted a catch to David Masters on the cover boundary off the bowling of Graham Napier, it sparked the Derbyshire collapse.

David Masters accounted for John Sadler and Wavell Hinds before Kaneria took centre stage.

He first bowled Greg Smith to take his 800th first-class wicket and then trapped Graham Wagg and Jon Clare lbw to claim the first hat-trick of his career.

Needing 325 to avoid the follow-on, Essex began poorly losing openers John Maunders and Alastair Cook to the left-arm seam of Wagg.

But Walker and Westley showed sound judgement and character to keep Derbyshire at bay until bad light ended play four overs early.

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