Derbyshire captain Wayne Madsen in action at Chelmsford on the second day against Essex. Madsen made a fine half century adding 81 for the 2nd wicket with Guptill and 75 for the 3rd wicket with Durston

Madsen drives through the covers for 4 at Chelmsford on Thursday

Wes Durston was the first to fifty at Chelmsford on Thursday despite giving Wayne Madsen a 34-run head start. His fifty came from 49 balls and included this huge 6 off Craddock

Wes Durston receives his captain's congratulations upon reaching 50

Another boundary for Durston en route to his second first class hundred of the season at Chelmsford

Durston plays this delivery down to fine leg for more runs at Chelmsford on Thursday

Durston acknowledges the crowd upon reaching his hundred at Chelmsford. During the course of his innings Durston passed 400 first class runs for the season and took his average past 50 in the championship this year. His current strike rate of 77.30 per hundred balls is the highest of any Derbyshire player this season

David Wainwright congratulates Durston on reaching three figures - his 6th first class century

Centurion Wes Durston leaves the field at tea having helped to put Derbyshire in a strong position in glorious hot weather at Chelmsford

Tim Groenewald hoists a massive 6 - straight out of the ground at the Hayes Close End at Chelmsford on Thursday

Tom Poynton defied his career batting record with a revelatory half century from just 35 balls with 2 sixes and 7 fours including this cover driven boundary at Chelmsford on Thursday

Poynton straight drives for 4 during his fifty at Chelmsford on Thursday

Poynton acknowledges the well-deserved applause of the Chelmsford crowd for his powerful fifty against Essex in just 36 minutes on Thursday

Ben Cotton, another of Derbyshire's crop of youngsters performs 12th man duties at Chelmsford on Thursday

Facing a first innings deficit of 141, Essex were soon in trouble when Tim Groenewald found the edge of Alviro Petersen's bat and the ball flew to Guptill at slip

Derbyshire's delight contrasts with Petersen's obvious despair at being dismissed for just 2 in the Essex 2nd innings. Petersen was out in both innings to the Groenewald/Guptill combination, scoring just 11 runs in the process

Groenewald does it again...Westley has edged this delivery from the Derbyshire opening bowler and is about to be caught by Durston at slip as Essex slump to 3-2 in their 2nd innings

Tim Groenewald in action during the final session on day two at Chelmsford. Groenewald again bowled with great discipline and skill, taking 2-7 from 6 overs

Derbyshire's fielders crowd Owais Shah in the final over of a good day for the visitors. Essex will begin the third day with 8 wickets intact and still trailing Derbyshire by 95 runs