A four-wicket haul from David Masters and Ravi Bopara’s first half-century of the season put Essex in a strong position to force their first victory in the LV= County Championship since the opening game of the season.

Masters picked up four for 48 to bowl out title-chasing Nottinghamshire for 217, giving Essex a first-innings lead of 112, which Bopara (pictured) took beyond 250 in partnership with Matt Walker in the visitors' second innings.

Nottinghamshire, looking to overhaul Yorkshire at the top of the table, collapsed to 88 for six before half-centuries from Steven Mullaney and Chris Read gave them a solitary batting point.

Bopara, who finished unbeaten on 57, then put together an unbroken partnership of 82 for the third wicket with Walker (46no), as Essex closed on 152 for two, 264 ahead.

Having begun their season with four straight victories, Nottinghamshire went down to an exciting defeat by Hampshire in their last Championship fixture and have struggled with the bat in this game, as a flurry of wickets came before lunch.

Beginning the day on 33 for two, first Mark Wagh was bowled by an off-cutter from Maurice Chambers, then Samit Patel played away from his body to edge Chris Wright to second slip.

Chambers then picked up his second wicket with a vicious bouncer which Neil Edwards could only fend weakly back to the bowler and, when Ali Brown was lbw to Ryan ten Doeschate on the eve of the lunch break, Nottinghamshire had lost four wickets for the addition of just 23 runs.

Mullaney and Read counter-attacked after the interval with some fine back-foot shots on either side of the wicket.

A leg-glance for four gave Mullaney his 50 from 66 balls and also brought up the century partnership from just 109 deliveries, but the former Lancashire all-rounder then immediately edged Chambers to third slip for 53, including seven fours and a six.

Read pulled two sixes off Graham Napier but straight after reaching 50, edged Masters for a fine diving catch by wicketkeeper James Foster.

Andre Adams and Paul Franks both perished with wild slogs but did at least secure a batting point for Nottinghamshire, who got one early wicket when Tom Westley edged Adams to Edwards at second slip.

But Bopara bedded himself in with Jaik Mickleburgh in an extended evening session, before Mickleburgh departed lbw for 25.

Bopara and Walker were untroubled for the remainder of the day and Nottinghamshire may need the weather to prevent a second consecutive defeat.