Derbyshire frustrated by ten Doeschate ton

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.