The destiny of the second promotion place to the first division rests firmly in the hands of Derbyshire, who were also in the mix before this match. Essex, having achieved the requisite bonus points and an extra one as insurance potentially to usurp Northamptonshire, now need to win this game and rely on the generosity, or otherwise, of Derbyshire’s declaration.

Otherwise is more the case than generous because Essex put them in and may face a target of about 350 in 70 overs today if Derbyshire’s plan comes to fruition. A draw is way off the radar for Essex, for whom Tom Westley expanded a maiden first-class hundred to 132 off 239 balls in the climb to a declaration at 356 for nine.

In April last year, Westley, now 20, was left unbeaten seven runs short of a maiden first-class hundred on the same ground, having benefited from bowling designed to instigate a run chase. Nobly, he preferred it that way, eager to make a genuine initial hundred off a proper attack and so, 17 months on, it came to pass against the same opponents. Westley and Matthew Walker had shared a partnership of 224 in 68 overs for the third wicket before Wavell Hinds held a remarkable diving catch at mid-on to dismiss Walker. His innings of 75 from 196 balls with nine fours had been as uncharacteristically ponderous as that of Hinds the previous day.

Graham Wagg, bowling spin and medium pace with equal efficiency, captured three wickets, along with Jonathan Clare and it took Ryan ten Doeschate and Chris Wright to save the follow-on by reaching 325. Oddly, maybe, they batted on but Essex, lax on their over-rate this season, read between the lines by collecting an extra batting point to avoid the possibility of a points’ deduction that might scupper their promotion.

The pitch has befriended batsmen as the match developed, giving Chris Rogers, the Derbyshire captain, a dilemma when it comes to declaration time. Since defeating Essex by an innings at Chesterfield in 1967, Derbyshire have beaten their easterly rivals only three times in 58 championship matches — another reason for being far from benevolent.

Danish Kaneria dismissed Rogers and Greg Smith in Derbyshire’s second innings in the absence of David Masters through a stiff neck. It took Kaneria’s total to 74 wickets in 11 championship games this season.

Derbyshire: First Innings 474 (C J L Rogers 222, G T Park 57; C J C Wright 4 for 97)
Second Innings
*C J L Rogers c Cook b Kaneria 42
W L Madsen c Walker b Wright 0
G T Park not out 25
G M Smith c and b Kaneria 16
W W Hinds not out 11
Extras (lb 7, nb 2) 9
Total (3 wkts, 35 overs) 103
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-63, 3-85.
Bowling: Napier 10-2-30-0; Wright 8-2-26-1; Ten Doeschate 5-0-26-0; Kaneria 9-1-11-2; Westley 3-0-3-0.

Essex: First Innings
J K Maunders c Rogers b Wagg 5
A N Cook c Pipe b Wagg 8
T Westley c Pipe b Jones 132
M J Walker c Hinds b Clare 75
M L Pettini c Madsen b Jones 14
†J S Foster c Redfern b Clare 15
R N ten Doeschate run out 41
G R Napier c Pipe b Clare 0
C J C Wright not out 24
Danish Kaneria c Madsen b Wagg 10
Extras (b 11, lb 6, w 1, nb 14) 32
Total (9 wkts dec, 107.5 overs) 356
D D Masters did not bat.
Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-14, 3-238, 4-244, 5-271, 6-299, 7-299, 8-346, 9-356.
Bowling: Jones 28-3-87-2; Wagg 31.5-10-79-3; Smith 10-0-41-0; Clare 23-4-64-3; Park 9-0-43-0; Hinds 6-0-25-0.

Umpires: S A Garratt and R A Kettleborough.