ESSEX lost strike bowler Andre Nel for most of another rain interrupted day but still bowled Derbyshire out for 239 to take a slender 31-run first innings lead in the LV County Championship Division Two match.

The South African Test paceman sent down two overs at the start of play but was in obvious discomfort and did not return to the attack until after tea.

But Derbyshire's batsmen were unable to profit from his absence on a sluggish pitch under overcast skies that favoured the seamers.

Steve Stubbings and John Sadler fought hard but no-one could play a major innings and it was left to the tail to secure Derbyshire's first batting point of the season.

Essex must have thought it would not be their day when first they lost captain Mark Pettini with an eye infection and then Nel was forced to return to the pavilion with an upper thigh strain.

But Chris Wright broke the stubborn second-wicket stand which had added 58 runs in 27 overs when he had Stubbings lbw for 39 with a delivery that nipped back sharply.

Sadler should have followed when he had made 23 but Tom Westley put down an easy chance at cover off Ravi Bopara.

The former Leicestershire batsman made the most of his escape by digging in but the wickets tumbled at the other end.

Dominic Telo was lbw to Ryan ten Doeschate for 10 as he played across the line and skipper Rikki Clarke made only six before he carved Bopara to cover, where Westley made no mistake.

David Masters finally got the wicket he deserved when Frederik Klokker pushed forward and was caught at first slip for eight and Jamie Pipe was beaten by a ball from Wright that kept low when he had made only 12.

Sadler scored just one in eight overs after lunch and his determined innings ended when he pushed at a lifter from Wright and was caught behind for 49 which had taken 171 balls.

After a brief stoppage for rain, Graham Wagg and Tom Lungley at least steered their team past 200 but James Middlebrook claimed another success for Essex when Wagg drove low to cover.

Nel was able to bowl at the start of the final session and he produced a nasty lifting ball to have Lungley caught behind for 18 before rain halted play again.

Jon Clare played some bold strokes to score 27 but when he aimed another big drive at ten Doeschate, he gave Jason Gallian a second catch at first slip to wrap up the innings.

By now, the light was poor and the umpires decided it was not good enough for Essex to start their second innings and play was abandoned with only 44 balls bowled after tea.

It means the game now looks to be heading for a draw unless Essex can score quickly enough in the morning to leave themselves an outside chance of bowling Derbyshire out for a second time.