Nottinghamshire duo Rob Lord and Farhan Ahmed continued their bright start to County Championship life, each claiming three wickets as Essex were dismissed for 457 on the second day of action at Chelmsford.
Micheal Pepper joined Tom Westley as century-makers in the hosts’ first innings, while Simon Harmer added 51, including a seventh-wicket partnership worth 133 with Pepper.
Notts concluded the day trailing by 420, with Ben Slater unbeaten on 26 when bad light and rain saw play for the day abandoned with 36.1 overs remaining.