An unbeaten 118 from Ryan ten Doeschate brought an abrupt

end to Derbyshire's progress on the first day of their LV

County Championship match against Essex at Chelmsford.

He and Alex Tudor (53 not out) put on an unbroken 126 for the

eighth wicket to take the home side to 365-7 at the close.

A classy 95 from Alastair Cook was the feature of the early

action but Derbyshire did well to wrestle the initiative back

with Jake Needham taking 4-81.

Charl Langeveldt had Jason Gallian caught at first slip by

Steve Stubbings for two in the fifth over of the day and

followed up by having Neil Dexter caught behind for nought to

make it 10-2.

Jon Clare came on for the 15th over and, with his fifth ball,

Ravi Bopara was surprised by extra bounce and Needham took an

outstanding catch, high and one-handed, at third slip to send

him back to the pavilion for seven.

Cook brought up his 50 off 58 balls with seven fours and added

81 with Mark Pettini before the skipper was lbw to Needham for

40 at 123-4.

Cook was five short of his century when he swept at Needham and

picked out Clare at midwicket, then James Foster swept at the

off-spinner and was caught off the top edge by Dan Birch at

short leg at 189-6.

James Middlebrook was Needham's fourth victim for seven, caught

at slip by Rikki Clarke, to make it 239-7 but that was the

last success for Derbyshire.