Wayne Madsen hit his first century of the season, while Chesney Hughes added 80, but it wasn’t enough as Derbyshire were defeated by an innings and 31 runs at Chelmsford.
Essex were bowled out for 473 in the morning session, a lead of 325, with Wayne White (6-113) claiming the last two wickets to complete his second successive six-wicket haul for the county.
Despite the loss of two early wickets, Derbyshire fought back as Madsen (112) shared a third-wicket partnership of 166 with Chesney Hughes in a profitable afternoon session. But Essex responded by taking wickets at regular intervals after tea as the visitors were finally dismissed for 294.
Resuming on 449-8, Essex lost an early wicket on Day Three as White trapped Aron Nijjar lbw for 16 to record a second straight five-wicket haul, following his career-best figures of 6-25 at Kent last time out.
Former England wicketkeeper James Foster decided to embark on the counter-attack while batting with number eleven James Porter, but he was finally dismissed for 72 as Billy Godleman took the catch to give White his sixth wicket of the innings, with Essex bowled out for 473.
Derbyshire lost two early wickets as Ben Slater was caught at mid-on without scoring by Graham Napier off the bowling of Porter before Godleman was caught by Ryan Ten Doeschate off the same bowler for seven.
Hughes and Madsen came to the crease with the score on 13-2 but they stabilised the innings with a battling partnership worth 166. After surviving a testing hour before lunch, both batsman reached their half centuries in the afternoon session as their stand reached three figures.
England all-rounder Ravi Bopara finally broke the partnership as Hughes was clean bowled for 80, which included seven fours and two sixes.
Madsen was unbeaten on 94 at tea and he helped to guide his side to 218-3 alongside Wes Durston after a good session where 148 runs were scored for the loss of one wicket.
Durston was out two balls into the evening session, however, as Graham Napier bowled him for a fluent 28 before Madsen, who played patiently following the dismissal of Durston, brought up a gutsy century from 149 balls.
Scott Elstone had played well alongside his Captain but he succumbed to a Ryder delivery when on 24, with Foster taking a smart catch behind the stumps.
Madsen fell for 112, which included 11 fours, shortly after with Alastair Cook taking the catch to present Napier with his second wicket. Napier then took two more wickets as Shiv Thakor was out lbw for a battling 15 before Tom Poynton was bowled without scoring.
With just five scheduled overs remaining in the day, Ryder took two wickets in five balls to remove both White and Mark Footitt as Derbyshire were all out for 294 and Essex recorded a victory by an innings and 31 runs.
Derbyshire are back in home NatWest T20 Blast action on Thursday 18 June when they welcome Leicestershire Foxes to The 3aaa County Ground.
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