They eventually secured a more comfortable position still 131 behind thanks to an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership of 125 by Carl Hopkinson (64no) and Luke Wright (59no).

BBC: Joyce victim of freak dismissal

They will still have Ravi Bopara (57) and Matt Walker (46), who shared an unbroken third-wicket partnership of 82, at the crease on the final morning.

BBC: Essex halted by Nottinghamshire's Mullaney and Read