Tom Westley and Paul Walter rescued Essex with a 142-run fifth-wicket stand in their County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Chelmsford.

Westley’s unbeaten 108 from 214 balls, his highest score of the season so far, held together an Essex innings that was in danger of collapse at 86-4 when the pair came together.

Westley had arrived in the sixth over and was still there 68 overs later with Essex 262-5 at the close.

Walter’s big hitting bought him 10 fours and a six in his 72 as it became a day of toil for Nottinghamshire, but pace bowler Rob Lord, in only his second Championship game, took 2-53.

Essex lost Dean Elgar cheaply and fellow opener Robin Das was snaffled at second slip for 20, while Luke Fletcher was finally rewarded when Matt Critchley left alone a delivery that jagged back.

Debutant Luc Benkenstein’s maiden scoring shot in first-class cricket was a delightful pull for four, but next ball he nicked Lord thinly through to the wicketkeeper.

The scoring improved as Westley and Walter put on the first fifty of their partnership in six overs. Westley’s own half-century took 79 balls and included five fours.

Walter also played his way in carefully before whipping Lyndon James off his legs for a first boundary and then twice elegantly lofting Farhan Ahmed to the rope behind the bowler.

The pair were finally parted after 42 overs when Walter went to sweep Ahmed and got a leading edge as the ball looped up to gulley, but Westley remained unbeaten alongside Michael Pepper (21).

Report supplied by ECB Reporters’ Network.