County Championship: Nick Browne's unbeaten 154 frustrates Derbyshire in Essex

Nick Browne passed 150 for the first time in his career in his 36th first-class match

Opener Nick Browne made a career-best unbeaten 154 as Essex closed on 284-3 on day one at Chelmsford.

Seamer Tony Palladino (2-61) reduced Essex to 70-2 in the morning session, taking the wickets of Jaik Mickleburgh and Tom Westley - both leg before.

Ravi Bopara (49) and Browne shared a third-wicket partnership of 111 before Shiv Thakor removed Bopara, also lbw.

But Browne then added a further 101 in an unbroken fourth-wicket stand with Dan Lawrence, who is unbeaten on 51.