Maurice Chambers again played a starring role as Essex handed out a 143-run defeat to title-chasing Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford to claim only their second championship victory of the summer.

Following a six-wicket haul in the first innings, he picked up 4-55 in the second to end with match figures of 10-123.

The 22-year-old fast bowler destroyed the top order before Notts, set a victory target of 303, were bowled out for 159.

Chambers’ early demolition of the innings paved the way for Pakistani leg-spinner Danish Kaneria to heap more misery on the visitors as he picked up four of the last five wickets.

The only resistance of note was provided by Mark Wagh and Alistair Brown, who shared in a fifth-wicket partnership of 53. That stand was broken when Chambers knocked out Wagh’s off stump following an opening spell in which he got rid of Alex Hales, Samit Patel and Steven Mullaney in a 28-ball spell costing 17 runs.

Kaneria finished with 4-51, all his successes arriving during the course of 22 deliveries costing 14, as Notts folded. Brown followed up his unbeaten 50 in the first innings with 62 before David Masters had him caught at wide third man.

Earlier, Essex advanced from an overnight 265 for four to 328 all out, Andre Adams and Charlie Shreck doing most of the damage as they picked up four for 57 and four for 81 respectively.

It all added up to a great start for James Foster, who was captaining Essex for the first time in the championship in the wake of Mark Pettini’s resignation.

“It was a great way to start and to come back the way we did was an incredible effort, especially after we had lost half our side cheaply on the opening morning,” he said.

“After we had been bowled out cheaply in the first innings I told the lads they needed to show character if we were to get back into the game and they responded magnificently.

“To restrict them to a slender lead was a fine effort and then we batted well to get over 300 in the second innings.

“I regard Notts as one of the best sides in the Championship and our success will have set down a marker.”

Essex have signed Nottinghamshire seamer Andrew Carter on a one-month loan deal.