LIAM Dawson needed only three balls to take his first wicket for Essex.

The Hampshire all-rounder trapped Lancashire’s Alviro Petersen with his third delivery after joining Essex on a month’s loan.

Slow left-armer Dawson then bowled former South Africa left-hander Ashwell Prince with the first ball of his fourth over - a second successive maiden - as Essex reduced the second division LV County Championship leaders to 92-4 on a rain-affected opening day at Old Trafford.

Dawson, who requested a loan move after being dropped from Hampshire’s Championship side, had 2-7 from 4.4 overs when rain restricted his first day as an Essex player to 25.4 overs, with the home side 96-4.

He bowled third change after rookie seamer Jamie Porter dismissed Lancashire’s openers.