Report - Tea on day 1

Essex's first innings total is likely to be overhauled at Trent Bridge as Nottinghamshire's batsmen succeed where their visitors failed. At tea today Nottinghamshire's reply stood at a comfortable 56-1. Jason Gallian was 20 not out. Essex, meanwhile, are hoping their bowlers fare better than their batsmen. The visitors were all out for a paltry 130 just after lunch after Nottinghamshire's bowling attack left the top of the Essex batting order in tatters. The home side elected to field first after winning the toss, and their decision was instantly vindicated. England captain Nasser Hussain, making a rare appearance for Essex ahead of his resumption of national duties, managed just one run before falling to Greg Smith. Essex openers Darren Robinson and Paul Grayson, who had been in such fine form recently, were dismissed for seven and 19 respectively. Smith picked up Grayson's wicket too, and he also removed danger man Andy Flower for just four runs, leaving Essex floundering. Once again Essex skipper Ronnie Irani showed his team the way, however, and led a small fightback with a quickfire 37

Report - Lunch on day 2

Essex must perform better with the bat today than they managed in their first innings if they are to deny Nottinghamshire a home win at Trent Bridge. But the Essex bowling attack this morning gave the visitors a fighting chance of saving the game, reducing Notts from 152-5 overnight to 213 all out. Essex skipper Ronnie Irani was leading from the front again. Having top-scored for Essex with the bat, he went on to take 5-67 with the ball in hand. The Notts total gave the home side an 83-run lead - they dismissed Essex for 130 yesterday on day one of this four-day Frizzell County Championship Division Two clash. At lunch today Essex's second innings total stood at 44 for 2, leaving them 39 runs behind. Hussain and Robinson are the batsmen out; they went for 4 and 0 respectively

Report - Tea on day 2

Bad light stopped play shortly after tea in the county championship clash between Essex and Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. A battling innings of 83 from Paul Grayson has helped Essex fight their way back into contention - but it may not be enough. At tea on day two of the four-day Division Two clash, Essex had reached 212 for 7 in their second innings, giving them a lead of 129 runs. Only three more runs were added in the final session before bad light brought a halt to proceedings. Once again Greg Smith has been the bowler who has caused Essex the most problems, and he has taken five of the seven second-innings wickets to fall so far. James Middlebrook and Ashley Cowan are the Essex batsmen who will resume tomorrow - they stand on 16 and 4 respectively. But Essex look like having a small second innings lead to defend, and Notts are strong favourites to claim a win. This morning the Essex bowling attack had given the visitors a fighting chance of saving the game, reducing Notts from 152-5 overnight to 213 all out. Essex skipper Irani was leading from the front again. Having top-scored for Essex with the bat, he went on to take 5-67 with the ball in hand. The Notts total gave the home side an 83-run lead - they dismissed Essex for 130 yesterday

Report - Final

Essex have lost their county championship clash against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge with more than day' play left to spare. Chasing 188 in their second innings, Notts knocked off the last of the required runs just before tea today to win by seven wickets. The home side took 16 points from the clash - Essex took just three. Essex skipper Ronnie Irani complained about the state of the Trent Bridge pitch, describing it as the most dangerous he had ever played on. The matter is being investigated by ECB officials. Resuming this morning with Essex's second innings score standing at 217-7, Notts had struggled to mop up the last Essex wickets. Ashley Cowan made a valuable 42-run contribution, and James Middlebrook weighed in with 27. Essex were eventually all out for 270, a vast improvement on their first innings effort of 130. But Notts, set 188 to win, never looked in difficulty, reaching 53-1 by lunch. Bad light had stopped play shortly after tea on day two. The Essex bowling attack had given the visitors a fighting chance of saving the game yesterday, reducing Notts from 152-5 overnight to 213 all out in their first innings.