SECOND-wicket pair Wayne Madsen and Ben Slater gave Derbyshire a great start to their second innings on the third day of their LV County Championship match at Chesterfield.
They added 125 only, in the last over before tea, for Madsen to be run out for 59 when Slater slipped as the skipper set off for a second run. Slater was still there at tea on 59 not out in a score of 127-2.
In the morning, Tony Palladino polished off the Essex innings and Nick Browne carried his bat for an unbeaten century as Essex were bowled out for 277 for a first innings lead of two runs.
Palladino took four wickets in the morning session to finish with 4-65 from a marathon 33-over stint.
Browne was 132 not out, a maiden first-class century for the left-handed opener, making him the first Essex player to carry his bat since John Stephenson in 1992. He was at the crease for a minute short of seven hours, faced 322 balls and hit 19 fours.
He reached his century shortly before the second new ball was taken and, soon after, Greg Smith was caught behind off Palladino for 32 to give Derbyshire their breakthrough at 241-6.
Graham Napier was lbw to Tom Taylor for two, a third victim for the bowler, before Palladino had Tim Phillips caught behind for four and Tom Moore caught at second slip for nought.
He took the final wicket in exactly 100 overs as Reece Topley was caught at first slip for nought.
Derbyshire lost a wicket to the sixth ball of the first over when Paul Borrington was lbw to Napier off his first ball at 1-1 but Madsen completed his second half-century of the match off 81 balls with seven fours and Slater followed, off 114 balls with eight fours.
Wes Durston was again off the field in the morning following his blow to the head on the first day but he had a net at lunch and was thought to be able to take his place in the batting order.
