At the end of a day when 42 overs were lost to rain, Northamptonshire finished the day trailing Essex by 87 runs with six first innings wickets standing in this compelling encounter between two of last season's promoted teams.

The complete afternoon session was washed out but when Northants resumed at 4.15pm on 35 without loss, both openers were dismissed inside five overs. Mal Loye pushed forward to Ronnie Irani and was trapped lbw and then Michael Hussey touched a ball down the leg side to the wicket-keeper off the bowling of Ricky Anderson.

Russell Warren and Jeff Cook patiently attempted to rebuild the innings but having added 38 for the third wicket, Cook was undone by a ball from 20-year-old Andrew McGarry that nipped back.

The home side were given further encouragement shortly before the rains arrived again when Anderson found the edge of Alec Swann's bat for a catch to third slip.

Warren though has played with confidence, his unbeaten 29 spanning 62 deliveries to complete the highest innings of the day.

Earlier in the day, Northants needed only 80 minutes to capture the remaining four Essex wickets for whom Ashley Cowan hit a spirited 27 including a six that took his side to their only batting point. Former Essex paceman Darren Cousins collected his fourth wicket of the innings, assisted by a magnificent slip catch by Hussey, that removed Tim Mason for a duck .

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