THE weather finally relented to allow Northamptonshire and Essex to commence their County Championship match at Wantage Road and it was the visitors that would have been more satisfied with the day’s events.

Having dismissed their hosts for 304 to collect three bowling bonus points, Essex successfully negotiated the remaining 14 overs to close on 18 without loss with Jason Gallian on 14 and John Maunders four not out.

In a match that Northamptonshire can ill-afford to lose if they are to maintain their hopes of playing Division One cricket next year, they built on a solid if unspectacular start by flaying the visitors' attack for 207 runs in the afternoon session in just 36 overs during which time Essex took six wickets.

The visitors failed to strike a blow in the morning after a start that had been delayed by an hour after the effects of yesterday’s rain.

Essex gave a debut to Maunders, who was released by Leicestershire batsman having featuring regularly for the 2nd XI this year, but it proved an inauspicious start for the 27-year-old.

Fielding at second slip, he spilled the fifth delivery of the day when Stephen Peters edged David Masters without a run on the board and saw the former Essex batsman move onto a vigilant 41 before he was yorked by Ravi Bopara.

Fellow opener Niall O’Brien was the first casualty when he was bowled around his legs by James Middlebrook for 45 and then Rob White was caught at deep extra cover by Ryan ten Doeschate off Bopara for a quickfire 24.

The loss of Peters saw the scoreboard reading 135-3 but David Sales, so often a thorn in the Essex side, once again posed a threat despite losing two partners with the score on 175.

Graham Napier struck twice in successive deliveries to remove Riki Wessels leg before for 17 and Lance Klusener to a first baller when the batsman edged low to Gallian at first slip.

Nicky Boje followed Sales' lead as the pair blazed away, putting on 68 in nine overs before Bopara broke the liaison when he had Boje caught by Mark Pettini at mid-on off a leading edge for a 28-ball 37 that included a six and six other boundaries.

Sales was run out for 59 attempting a suicidal second run to Chris Wright at fine leg and having receded to 261-7, the home side opted to grind their way towards a third batting point with Andrew Hall organising the successful conclusion of the quest despite the loss of Johannes van der Wath and Monty Panesar who both fell to Middlebrook.