ANDRE Nel jetted in from South Africa to spearhead the Essex attack on the opening day of the County Champion-ship season.

The paceman wasted little time announcing his arrival with a wicket in his third over as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 280 at Chelmsford yesterday.

He added two more wickets to finish with 3-64 despite having to play in borrowed kit, after his cricket bag was mislaid by baggage handlers in Johannesburg.

This is the third spell with the county for Nel, although he only enjoyed limited success last year, taking ten wickets in four first-class matches while also troubled by a neck injury.

Sent out on to a green Chelmsford wicket that offered carry throughout the day, Nel soon had the crowd roaring in approval when he knocked out the middle stump of 19-year-old Alex Wakely, who had still to score.

Fellow opener and former Essex batsman Stephen Peters fared a little better, reaching 18 before he was yorked by Nel.

When Ravi Bopara pinned David Sales for 19 with the last ball before lunch, the visitors had slumped to 76-3 wickets.

Chelmsford-born Rob White produced a well-organised innings to reach a half-century from 94 balls, but having added another ten runs, he was beaten by a superb delivery from Bopara. The bowler had been reintroduced into the attack at the Hayes Close End and struck with his first ball to enhance his "golden arm" reputation.

The all-rounder, eager to make the headlines in the opening weeks of the season to re-stake his claims for international consideration, soon had a third wicket, removing Riki Wessels leg-before for 25 as the visitors succumbed to 146-5 wickets.

However, Lance Klusener and Niall O'Brien then composed the highest partnership of the innings, putting on 57.

Klusener was dropped on 27 by Varun Chopra at second slip off the bowling of Nel. The ball raced to the boundary and the bowler's anguish increased when the next delivery was also sent to the ropes.

The liaison was broken by former Middlesex man Chris Wright on his Essex debut who trapped O'Brien for 28.

Steven Crook joined Kluse-ner to post another 52 runs before he became one of two victims in one James Middle-brook over. The off-spinner had Crook caught behind for 35 then saw David Wigley snaffled at silly mid-off.

The return of Masters and Nel soon wrapped up the remaining two wickets, leaving Klusener stranded on 72, with 11 boundaries, before the home side safely negotiated the last three overs of the day at 4-0, with Jason Gallian and Chopra each taking a single.