Yorkshire had a tough hit in their most recent County Championship game against Essex. They had a difficult time making runs, scoring just 216 runs before their innings ended. Running in to bowl to them was a wicket shrouded in dark green grass. This poor decision came back to bite them eventually. Yorkshire’s batting order started out well, but then they crumbled. At the end of the first day’s play, they found themselves behind the eight ball, 189 runs in deficit, with Essex on 27 for three wickets.
Even after a poor start Yorkshire seemed to be getting their heads above water, the openers looking solid for the first 23 of their overs. Opening batsman Adam Lyth was the fulcrum of this time period, though even his innings was not without a measure of good luck. Tom Westley should have had Lyth at wide mid-off on 36. This miscalculation proved to be expensive for Essex. Immediately after the drop, Lyth went square and, off the very next delivery from Kasun Rajitha, clubbed a leg glance to the boundary. He quickly became a prey for bowler. He was eventually trapped lbw, ending his innings at 58 runs off 148 balls.
James Wharton equally made a major contribution to Yorkshire’s overall total – though he was more reserved. He batted for more than three hours to make his second half-century of the County Championship season. Each run was well-deserved, created by his hard work and acute concentration. Wharton completed his half-century with a late-cut four taking him to 50 from 138 balls. He exhibited extraordinary tenacity and expertise, occupying the crease with patience. He finished his innings unbeaten on 63 from 145 balls as Yorkshire finished their innings.
That concluded a much improved innings where Matt Critchley would be the pick of the Essex performers. He finished with 4-49. Central to that turbulent passage was the very luckless dismissal of Jack White, who spooned one to slip at chest height. Critchley’s efforts were pivotal in wrapping up Yorkshire’s innings, which ended with four wickets lost.
In a tactical play, Yorkshire left both of their overseas – Ben Sears and Jordan Buckingham – out of this game. They chose to play one less bowler instead, fielding an extra batsman, Jonny Tattersall, who was making his first appearance of the season. Tattersall’s innings came to a rather unfortunate halt when he was bowled out for only four runs. He was dismissed at leg slip having defended Critchley’s second delivery.
Unfortunately, no play was possible on the second day despite brightening conditions, with Essex in a difficult position. At this point they were only 27 runs and 3 wickets down. That early resistance had seen Essex sitting pretty, 189 runs in front of their Yorkshire opponents. As the match produces more dramas, both sides look to nail down their place at the top of the County Championship Table.
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