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Simon Harmer took career-best figures of 9-80 on a dominant rain-interrupted day for Essex in their County Championship match against Derbyshire.

Harmer tore through the Derbyshire order to bowl them out for 146, after Essex had posted 412-3 declared.

The visitors were made to follow on and then lost opener Luis Reece for nought.

But Brooke Guest (56 not out) and Billy Godleman (39 not out) guided them to 97-1 at stumps, still trailing by 169 heading into the final day.

The start of day three was delayed following overnight rain at Chelmsford, but Harmer made up for lost time by taking regular wickets - with only Essex centurion Dan Lawrence preventing him from claiming all 10.

Guest top-scored with 49 for Derbyshire - and then went one better in the second innings to bring up his maiden first-class half-century.

He and Godleman shared an unbroken stand of 83 and at least one of them may need to go on if they are to avoid defeat.