Ollie Robinson looked set to reach 200 for the first time in his career, but when on 198 he edged a ball from spinner Matt Critchley to the keeper.
The wicket-keeper batsman is being talked of by many in the game as a possible call-up for England this summer and he has been in fine form with the bat. He got a great ovation from the crowd as he walked off.
He started the season with five half centuries in a row and then made a career-best 171 not out at Blackpool in May. Here in the heat of Chelmsford, he also broke the Durham fifth-wicket stand record against Essex, putting on 175 with Colin Ackermann.
Ackermann was out for 73, caught at short leg by Nick Browne off Simon Harmer. Two balls later the same thing happened to Bas De Leede who was out for a duck.
This is Durham's highest score against Essex, beating their 505 in an innings win at CLS in 2005.
The atmosphere seemed really flat after tea and Essex appeared to be in no hurry in the field either. There were lots of discussions in between deliveries.
There was also a ball change. The second of the innings. And there wasn't much noise in the stands. In the warmth of Chelmsford it appeared to be a good time for an afternoon nap. Maybe the lack of a wicket was having an effect?
However they have managed to get one now, with Alex Lees lbw to Matt Critchley for 113. That ended a partnership with Ollie Robinson for fourth wicket of 136. Robinson remains out there on 84.
It's generally been a good day with the bat for Durham after they won the toss. Until Lees perished, only one wicket had fallen since lunch and that was when David Bedingham was out for 65 in the 40th over. The Lees wicket came in the 73rd.
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Milestone for Lees
Durham 267-3 v Essex
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
Alex Lees has just notched his 26th century in first-class cricket, but had the keeper not dropped a ball off Simon Harmer earlier in the session, things may have been a lot different.
Lees was on 77 when he left his crease and missed the ball. But the ball then popped out of Michael Pepper's gloves when there was a stumping to be had.
He was almost run out not long after that, but lived to reach three figures.
Ollie Robinson has notched his seventh half-century of the season and has 52 runs at tea with Durham 267-3 after 64 overs.
David Bedingham's run of consecutive centuries in the County Championship has come to an end.
After 144 at Hampshire in May, he followed it with 103 and 101 at Blackpool and 101 against Somerset.
He was the first Durham batsman to reach centuries in four consecutive innings and having passed 50 again today I thought he would be on his way to a fifth.
Simon Harmer had other ideas. Following a conversation with his skipper, he delivered a ball which had Bedingham caught behind on 65. It ended a third-wicket stand with Alex Lees of 95.
Lees is now on 76 while Ollie Robinson has 18. Harmer needs three more wickets for 450 in first-class cricket for Essex.
Bish Bash Bosch
Essex v Durham 144-2 - lunch
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
Rex FeaturesCopyright: Rex Features
Essex's South African debutant Eathan Bosch has taken both wickets to fall on day one at Chelmsford.
The first was Michael Jones - he is playing in his first Championship game of the season, having just returned from the World Cup with Scotland.
Jones was on 38 when he edged Bosch to the keeper. It ended an aggressive innings in which he'd hit Simon Harmer out of the ground twice, while scoring four fours as well.
Scott Borthwick was the second wicket. The Durham skipper chased after a ball he should have left well alone. It would have been a one-day wide but he got a bottom edge to the keeper.
Alex Lees has moved onto 50 since then though and David Bedingham, having passed 800 championship runs in the season today, is on 49.
It's a hot day in Chelmsford, where Durham have recorded only one win. That was on their first visit in 1993.
Leicestershire's Rishi Patel hits 104 off 45 balls in a tied game with Northants, while Birmingham Bears go top of North Group by beating Worcestershire.
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Latest PostRobinson misses out on double hundred
Durham 533-7 v Essex
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
Ollie Robinson looked set to reach 200 for the first time in his career, but when on 198 he edged a ball from spinner Matt Critchley to the keeper.
The wicket-keeper batsman is being talked of by many in the game as a possible call-up for England this summer and he has been in fine form with the bat. He got a great ovation from the crowd as he walked off.
He started the season with five half centuries in a row and then made a career-best 171 not out at Blackpool in May. Here in the heat of Chelmsford, he also broke the Durham fifth-wicket stand record against Essex, putting on 175 with Colin Ackermann.
Ackermann was out for 73, caught at short leg by Nick Browne off Simon Harmer. Two balls later the same thing happened to Bas De Leede who was out for a duck.
This is Durham's highest score against Essex, beating their 505 in an innings win at CLS in 2005.
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Read moreRobinson & Lees hit tons as Durham dominate Essex
Alex Lees and Ollie Robinson score contrasting centuries as Durham pile up the runs on day one of their County Championship game at Essex.
Read more'Good day with bat for Durham'
Durham 325-4 v Essex
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
The atmosphere seemed really flat after tea and Essex appeared to be in no hurry in the field either. There were lots of discussions in between deliveries.
There was also a ball change. The second of the innings. And there wasn't much noise in the stands. In the warmth of Chelmsford it appeared to be a good time for an afternoon nap. Maybe the lack of a wicket was having an effect?
However they have managed to get one now, with Alex Lees lbw to Matt Critchley for 113. That ended a partnership with Ollie Robinson for fourth wicket of 136. Robinson remains out there on 84.
It's generally been a good day with the bat for Durham after they won the toss. Until Lees perished, only one wicket had fallen since lunch and that was when David Bedingham was out for 65 in the 40th over. The Lees wicket came in the 73rd.
Milestone for Lees
Durham 267-3 v Essex
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
Alex Lees has just notched his 26th century in first-class cricket, but had the keeper not dropped a ball off Simon Harmer earlier in the session, things may have been a lot different.
Lees was on 77 when he left his crease and missed the ball. But the ball then popped out of Michael Pepper's gloves when there was a stumping to be had.
He was almost run out not long after that, but lived to reach three figures.
Ollie Robinson has notched his seventh half-century of the season and has 52 runs at tea with Durham 267-3 after 64 overs.
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Read moreBedingham's run is over
Durham 208-3 v Essex
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
David Bedingham's run of consecutive centuries in the County Championship has come to an end.
After 144 at Hampshire in May, he followed it with 103 and 101 at Blackpool and 101 against Somerset.
He was the first Durham batsman to reach centuries in four consecutive innings and having passed 50 again today I thought he would be on his way to a fifth.
Simon Harmer had other ideas. Following a conversation with his skipper, he delivered a ball which had Bedingham caught behind on 65. It ended a third-wicket stand with Alex Lees of 95.
Lees is now on 76 while Ollie Robinson has 18. Harmer needs three more wickets for 450 in first-class cricket for Essex.
Bish Bash Bosch
Essex v Durham 144-2 - lunch
Martin Emmerson
BBC Radio Newcastle
Essex's South African debutant Eathan Bosch has taken both wickets to fall on day one at Chelmsford.
The first was Michael Jones - he is playing in his first Championship game of the season, having just returned from the World Cup with Scotland.
Jones was on 38 when he edged Bosch to the keeper. It ended an aggressive innings in which he'd hit Simon Harmer out of the ground twice, while scoring four fours as well.
Scott Borthwick was the second wicket. The Durham skipper chased after a ball he should have left well alone. It would have been a one-day wide but he got a bottom edge to the keeper.
Alex Lees has moved onto 50 since then though and David Bedingham, having passed 800 championship runs in the season today, is on 49.
It's a hot day in Chelmsford, where Durham have recorded only one win. That was on their first visit in 1993.
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