Derbyshire implode after Browne double

Derbyshire 116 for 6 (Walter 3-23) trail Essex 530 for 9 (Browne 229*, ten Doeschate 60, Milnes 6-93) by 414 runs
Scorecard

Nick Browne's unbeaten double-century provided the platform for Division Two leaders Essex to take complete control of the match against Derbyshire at Derby. The opener was unbeaten on 229, his second double-hundred of the season against Derbyshire, when Essex declared at 530 for 9 with Ryan ten Doeschate scoring 60 and Paul Walter 47 on his first-class debut.

Derbyshire seamer Tom Milnes claimed a Championship best 6 for 93 but it was the only positive for the home side who collapsed before tea and closed the day 116 for 6.

Essex went into the second morning already well placed and Browne and ten Doeschate accumulated steadily to take their partnership to 140 before Milnes broke through.

Derbyshire should have removed Browne on 144 when he swatted a full toss from legspinner Matt Critchley to square leg but Charlie Macdonell spilled a simple chance. It was the second time Browne had been put down and he made the most of his good fortune by batting Essex into a position of utter dominance with the help of ten Doeschate and Walter.

The Essex captain straight drove Critchley for six and although this was one of his less explosive innings against Derbyshire, his side were well on top when he played on to Milnes who claimed three more wickets in three overs after lunch. James Foster pulled to fine leg, Will Rhodes edged to second slip on his Essex debut after arriving on loan from Yorkshire and Graham Napier gloved a catch down the leg side but that was as good as it got for Derbyshire.

Walter strode to the middle to dominate a stand of 83 in 13 overs, taking three consecutive fours from Callum Parkinson to bring up the 500 before Browne drove Tony Palladino over long-on for his second six.

Essex pulled out when Palladino clipped Walter's leg stump and Derbyshire were soon in deep trouble with Ben Slater lbw to Jamie Porter's second delivery and Billy Godleman bowled in the fourth over. Wayne Madsen walked out needing 22 for 1000 championship runs for the season but was lbw to a Walter yorker without scoring and when Will Hughes was well taken down the leg side, Derbyshire were 34 for 4.

Neil Broom looked secure and Macdonell showed application in his first Championship innings as the fifth wicket pair resisted for 17 overs before Napier produced a quicker ball to have Broom taken at first slip for 31. Walter returned to tempt Macdonell into an edged drive and although Alex Mellor and Matt Critchley dug in for 13 overs, Derbyshire were 414 behind at stumps.