Northamptonshire fell just short of 300 after being put in to bat by Essex in the County Championship Division Two promotion clash at Chelmsford.

The visitors, dismissed for 299, were sustained by all-rounder Andrew Hall who struck a splendid 85 to leave his side with the advantage despite another superb display of leg-spin bowling from Essex's Danish Kaneria who returned figures of five 86.

Making his 50th first-class appearance for the county, the Pakistan Test player marked the occasion by claiming a five-wicket haul for the 24th time for Essex.

Hall arrived at the crease after his side had lost half their wickets with just 143 runs on the board but he adopted an attacking policy to restore the innings as ht hit 12 boundaries that included a six off Kaneria.

During his 160-minute stay, the visitors added a further 154 runs until he became the ninth wicket to fall when he was James Foster's fourth victim, edging the ball to the wicketkeeper as he shaped to cut to give David Masters a second wicket.

Northants had been given a useful start by their openers who put on 40 before being parted, which included 14 off the opening over of the match from Masters.

Chris Wright broke the stand when he encouraged Niall O'Brien (14) to drive to Graham Napier at cover before fellow opener Stephen Peters became the first of Kaneria's collection when he was trapped in the crease for 37 playing back.

The bowler then removed Riki Wessels for 10 thanks to a quick piece of work by the ever-impressive Foster who had the bails off in a flash as the batsman stepped forward to drive.

A 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket eased the visitors' problems until, having advanced the total onto 143, two wickets fell in four deliveries without addition.

Rob White pushed forward to Kaneria and was caught at short leg for 30 before Masters removed Northants Championship debutant Paul Harrison for a well constructed 32 as the promotion hopefuls slipped to 143 for five.

That became 153 for six when skipper Nicky Boje was pinned in the crease for eight but Hall stepped forward to shepherd the later order, figuring in stands of 27 with Johan van der Wath, 71 with David Lucas and then 46 with Monty Panesar until Hall's positive and attacking approach ended having faced 118 deliveries.

Masters then wrapped up the Northants innings by bowling Lee Daggett for a duck, leaving Panesar unbeaten on 32 and the visitors tantalisingly one run short of a third batting point.

Essex then negotiated the remaining three overs of the day without due concern to finish on three without loss.

With the scheduled opening day completely lost to the weather, Northants would have been satisfied with the day's proceedings having started the match 12 points ahead of their hosts with one more match remaining following this encounter in the quest to join Kent as one of the two promoted sides from Division Two.