Essex seal vital innings victory as Derbyshire's resistance is picked off at Chelmsford

Simon Harmer claimed his seventh LV= Insurance County Championship 10-wicket haul as Essex returned to winning ways by cruising to an innings-and-15-run victory over Derbyshire.

Harmer, who bowled unchanged from the River End on day four, took 3 for 122 in the second innings after a career-best 9 for 80 in the first, for a match analysis of 12 for 202. Jamie Porter and Sam Cook also took three scalps in the second innings.

Ryan ten Doeschate claimed six catches in the match, all at short-leg - the 14th occasion an Essex player has managed the feat and first since Alastair Cook versus Durham in 2004.

The win handed Essex the maximum 24 points to recharge their Division One ambition after three games without a success, while Derbyshire only secured a solitary point.

"Harmer is the best in the world at the moment, in my opinion," Porter said at the close of play. "That will always be up for debate but he is certainly the best I've seen and the best in county cricket. Having him in your side makes life a lot easier!"

Brooke Guest, who completed his maiden first-class half-century the previous evening, and Billy Godleman continued to frustrate Essex as their partnership hit 212 balls, and 97 runs.

But a change of ball, after Guest had swept into the brick wall in front of the pavilion, brought about an immediate change. Porter angled in to Godleman to rap the former Essex man on the pads.

Four overs later Guest made a rare misstep on 65, as he offered no shot to Sam Cook and was also given lbw.

Leus du Plooy and Wayne Madsen were both dropped either side of lunch - the former dropped by Alastair Cook at first slip and the latter survived sweeping at leg slip Dan Lawrence.

Essex's close-in fielders continued to chunter noisily about "going bang-bang", and finally got their wish as Madsen and du Plooy's stand ended in quick succession, having been together for 19 overs.

Madsen tickled onto his thigh pad before ten Doeschate swooped at short-leg to give Harmer his first of the innings, having been wicketless for 29.5 overs.

In the following over, Shane Snater drew an edge out of du Plooy with Alastair Cook holding on at first slip.

Harvey Hosein and Matt Critchley chewed up another 15 overs before another bang-bang as Harmer and ten Doeschate teamed up for the sixth time in the match.

Hosein was the victim of some panther-like reactions, low under the lid, after a thick inside-edge before Fynn Hudson-Prentice went back and looped a diving chance off his legs.

Critchley was the next to depart when Porter struck with the second new ball as he edged to Alastair Cook.

Sam Cook completed the emphatic victory when Billy Stanlake chipped to mid-on before Alex Hughes sliced to point.

Essex have now beaten Derbyshire by an innings in four of their last five meetings, with this win coming despite a washed-out opening day and 147 overs lost in the match.

"We haven't played our best cricket recently, but I think this was our best cricket," Porter said. "People have been doubting us and hopefully that sends a clear message.

"At Edgbaston there was one bad session, at Worcester we were on the better side of the draw and at Notts we were simply outplayed - it didn't feel like crisis station. Those results don't define a season.

"When you are so used to turning up and outplaying opposition it can be hard to take a loss but we are very good that it isn't the end of the world and there is still plenty of time to win the group.

"To have the first day rained off on a wicket that looked like it would offer a bit to the bowlers and play the way we did on day one, I've never been involved in such a dominant day's play in my life."