Lyndon James collected two wickets as the Nottinghamshire bowling attack fought admirably to keep their Rothesay County Championship clash with Essex in the balance at the halfway stage.

James returned figures of 2/42, while Farhan Ahmed, Brett Hutton, and Fergus O’Neill also all picked up one apiece as Essex closed on 301-5, 46 in arrears.

Kyle Verreynne had earlier added to his overnight 111 to finish unbeaten on 128, as Notts, resuming on 328-8, were dismissed for 347.

The South African, who now averages 376.00 for the Green and Golds and faced 242 deliveries on his return to Trent Bridge, was the not out batter as Sam Cook collected the final two home wickets to finish with 4/44.

With their healthy total behind them, Notts found early joy before lunch, as the productive O’Neill, who took eight wickets on his debut last week, pinned Charlie Allison lbw for 11

Visiting captain Tom Westley then fell in identical fashion to Brett Hutton’s first ball of the season, unable to dig out a fine yorker that left him beaten all ends up for five.

However, in the hours that followed, Allison’s fellow opener Paul Walter and England batter Jordan Cox helped the Eagles recover, putting on 123 for the third wicket.

Both exchanged their half-centuries and posted their three-figure partnership within a short space of time, before Walter’s overconfidence got the better of him when facing Ahmed.

Having hit successive boundaries, the young spinner showed impressive composure to tempt him into a third big swipe, only to see the ball pop up to Joe Clarke and spell his end for 76.

Cox continued on, taking Essex past 200 and up to the tea break, only to fall to James off the first ball of the evening session for 82 as he feathered one through to Verreynne.

James also then took care of Michael Pepper a little under an hour later, as a fluent 26 came to an end when he cut aerially to Jack Haynes at backward point, who took an agile catch.

The clouds did roll in towards the end of the day, forcing play to conclude under the floodlights, but Matt Critchley, who reached a half-century in the final over, and Noah Thain were able to resist, reaching stumps with a stand worth 53.