Essex first team coach Paul Grayson

Essex head coach Paul Grayson believes his side were facing an uphill battle after posting just 182 in the first innings.

Essex coach Paul Grayson admitted his side were completely outclassed as they slipped to a 10-wicket defeat over Derbyshire inside three days.

Only 182 runs were scored by Essex on the opening day after winning the toss and opting to bat.

And Grayson believes that was his sides downfall, as it has been for numerous seasons at the County Ground.

“We have been outplayed, over the three days Derbyshire completely outplayed us and as a team sometimes you have to take your medicine,” said Grayson.

“The opposition were better then us, we have got to live with that. It is our first loss of the season in four day cricket. It’s disappointing to take but they are playing with a lot of confidence and are top for a reason and on reflection of the game you cannot score 182 on a first day wicket. We have done that far too often this year, last year and the one previous, there is only so much fighting you can do.”

Skipper James Foster’s 96 and returning Owais Shah’s 75 were the only highlights of the third day for the hosts as they were completely swept aside by Derbyshire, winning for the first time at Chelmsford in 75 years.

“We showed a bit of fight with the ball. I thought generally we bowled pretty well in that first innings to keep them down to 320,” added the coach.

“I thought James Foster and Owais Shah played well today but until we score bigger runs in first innings it is always going to be tough going.”