POOR Jamie Pipe. One moment, he was happily cruising towards a hundred and enjoying being part of the stand that had dragged Derbyshire out of the mire, the next he was changing into his wicketkeeping pads with 95 not out against his name.

As collapses go, Derbyshire's was pretty rapid – from 260-5 to 271 all out in the space of 23 balls – as they conceded a first innings lead of 133 on the second day of their LV County Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford.

Consolation for Pipe at having missed out on the fifth first-class century of his career came quickly in the shape of two catches as Essex stumbled to 14-2 second time around and finished the day at 59-3, leading by 192.

With the weather forecast practically guaranteeing no play tomorrow, the game moved on apace yesterday.

It began with Derbyshire tidying up the final three Essex first innings wickets for 39 in 12 overs, as Ryan ten Doeschate failed to add to his overnight 118, Alex Tudor fell for 68 and Danish Kaneria found himself in the rare position of being his side's main run contributor before he was last man out for 22.

The home side were 404 all out, which was a decent recovery from Derbyshire after ten Doeschate and Tudor had put on 126 for the eighth wicket on Sunday.

But the problems at the top of their batting order returned to haunt them as they slid to 120-5. Dan Birch went early, caught behind off a good second ball from Maurice Chambers, but Steve Stubbings and Dominic Telo took Derbyshire safely through to lunch at 53-1.

Telo looked more at ease than at any other time during his brief Championship career with the county and the table was set for him to move on but he was caught at second slip off the fourth ball after lunch for 22.

Stubbings was also badly in need of a substantial innings but he was third out for 26 before two more wickets in successive overs left Derbyshire in danger of failing to reach the follow-on target of 255.

Ravi Bopara juggled and finally caught an edge from Rikki Clarke at second slip to give Kaneria the second of his three wickets, then it was volleyball practice again in the slips as Wavell Hinds' fierce cut was parried up by Alastair Cook at second and snaffled by Jason Gallian at first.

Hinds made a hugely entertaining 47 off 43 balls with eight fours and three sixes, showing the increasingly good touch that had marked his form in the Twenty20 Cup. He does hit the ball very firmly.

The rot was stopped by Pipe and Greg Smith, who earned his return to the side through his Twenty20 performances and made a precious 53.

He was dropped on 32 by Kaneria at mid on but played with great maturity, scoring his runs off 106 balls with seven fours until he offered another chance to mid on and this time ten Doeschate made no mistake.

Having done so well, it was an unnecessary way to end his stay.

He and Pipe put on 140 to pass the follow-on mark. Pipe took on the bulk of the scoring on the ground where he hit 133 not out last season and looked set to follow up his 133 in his last Championship innings, against Worcestershire.

But Bopara's gentle medium pace wreaked havoc as he claimed the last four Derbyshire wickets for three runs in nine balls.

Pipe was stranded, having faced 108 balls and hit 13 fours and three sixes. He deserved a century and no-one was probably more surprised that he did not get one.