County Championship: Rain stops Essex victory push against Derbyshire

Chesney Hughes has scored two first-class centuries for Derbyshire this season

Specsavers County Championship Division Two, Chelmsford

Essex v Derbyshire, day four

Essex 538-7 dec: Browne 255, Lawrence 116; Thakor 4-107

Derbyshire 280 & 261-4: Hughes 66 not out

Match drawn

Essex 11 pts, Derbyshire 8 pts

Match scorecard

Essex were unable to press home their advantage as rain forced the game against Derbyshire into a draw.

Play was delayed until mid-afternoon and Derbyshire began steadily before Hamish Rutherford (68) was dismissed.

Wayne Madsen fell lbw shortly after to Graham Napier (1-59).

Opener Chesney Hughes however (66 not out) remained firm, thrashing spinner Dan Lawrence for six, before both sides shook hands for the draw with Derbyshire on 261-4.

The result keeps Essex top of the Divison Two table, 18 points ahead of second-placed Kent.