Essex's fading promotion hopes are in Derbyshire's hands after the home side ended the third day at Derby on 108 for three and a lead of 221 runs.

Northamptonshire's victory means Essex have to win to deprive them of second place but that depends on what target Derbyshire are prepared to set.

It is unlikely to be generous after their own chances of going up were ended by the news from Northampton and Essex can expect to face a demanding run chase on the last day.

The visitors first task was to avoid the follow-on and they had a scare before reaching the 325 required despite a maiden first-class century from Tom Westley who shared a third-wicket stand of 224 with Matt Walker.

Essex had been cruising along when Walker and the highly promising Westley were together on a pitch which had become easier to bat on.

Westley, who had made an unbeaten 93 at Derby last year, got to his hundred when he pulled a no ball from Graham Wagg for his 15th four.

But a mistimed pull by Walker on 75 gave Jon Clare the first of three wickets as Wavell Hinds dived full length at mid-on to hold a one-handed catch.

Westley's impressive innings ended on 132 in disappointing fashion when he was caught down the legside off Steffan Jones who then produced a better ball to have Mark Pettini snared at first slip on the stroke of lunch.

Essex were in danger of falling short when James Foster drove Clare loosely to cover and Graham Napier edged a drive two balls later with the total on 299.

But Ryan ten Doeschate and Chris Wright settled any nerves in the visitors' dressing-room by taking the score to 346 before the Dutch all-rounder was run out for 41 going for a second to deep cover.

It was expected Essex would declare after avoiding the follow on but they carried on to claim a third batting point, possibly as insurance against a slow over-rate penalty, and Danish Kaneria thrashed Graham Wagg's left-arm spin over long on for six before they called a halt.

That left Derbyshire with a lead of 118 but they lost Wayne Madsen for a duck when he edged Wright to first slip in the sixth over.

Rogers was again in commanding form and added 42 to his first innings double century to take his season's average to 73 before Kaneria found his outside edge and Alastair Cook pounced at slip.

Kaneria took his 74th Championship victim in only his 11th match when Greg Smith drove back a return catch but bad light nine overs before the close denied him further success, leaving Essex's promotion ambitions resting on a sensational spell from the leg spinner or, more realistically, a declaration.