Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Jonny Bairstow captained Yorkshire on his former home ground at Clifton Park.
Captain Jonny Bairstow hailed the “match-changing partnership” between Ben Coad and centurion Matthew Revis after Yorkshire completed a superb recovery win over Essex at York today.
Yorkshire won by 10 wickets against a side they have leapfrogged in the Division One table, chasing a target of 41 in nine overs after tea on day four.
There were other significant contributors in the match which yielded Yorkshire’s second win in nine Rothesay County Championship games this summer; Adam Lyth with a first-innings 84 and Jack White with seven wickets in the match.
White struck three times today to complete an eye-catching haul of 4-37 from 20.1 overs as Essex were bowled out for 131 in their second innings having started it with a deficit of 91.
But the key passage of play came through the heart of day three. Yorkshire, replying to a first-innings 368, had slipped to 273-8 before Coad and Revis – 89 and 150 respectively, shared a record-breaking ninth-wicket 169 in exhilarating fashion to carry fire Yorkshire towards a first-innings total of 459.
Both men posted career bests, ultimately bringing a 20-point haul which delighted their skipper.
“I’m really proud of the way the lads stuck in there,” said wicketkeeper-batter Bairstow. “It would have been easier to go missing when they got nearly 400 batting first.
“That partnership yesterday with Rev and Coady, it was seriously special. It was a match-changing partnership. Then, obviously, the way the guys have stuck together and bowled (was superb).”
Bairstow also praised the bowlers.
“As a group, I think we’re managing and controlling the rate really well, and that creates pressure,” he said.
“Ultimately, that was the difference, I feel, in the two bowling attacks.
“We had three guys who were really able to control that rate and control the manner in which they scored.
“We revert to the partnership that we’ve already mentioned, and I felt they weren’t able to contain us and they went a bit short or they went a bit wide, so it made scoring easier.”
Yorkshire are now placed eighth in Division One, three points clear of Essex in ninth, and have dominated both fixtures against the Chelmsford county in 2025.
He said: “After them holding out for a draw down at Essex and us dominating the game (in May), we had the bit between our teeth to try and win this one this week.
“Most of the results around the counties have been draws, so it just shows how much of a decent win this is.
“The bottom four or five spots are all very tight at the moment.
“If you can gain wins on people that are around you, that’s going to be a big thing for the rest of the year.”
Bairstow played some junior club cricket for York and went to school just down the road at St Peter’s.
This was only the second Championship match held at Clifton Park after Warwickshire visited in 2019.
“I personally think it’s been magnificent,” said Bairstow of the last four days. “From the wicket to the outfield, obviously the facilities for spectators to come, having the stand put up, having the marquee, the food and beverage vans all the way around the ground.
“It’s a great place to play cricket, and the atmosphere they’ve created here at York has become a venue that people are really looking forward to coming and playing at.
“It just shows they’re able to hold county cricket here.
“The boys have thoroughly enjoyed it this week.
“A huge thanks to York Cricket Club and to everyone who’s volunteered, put in all of the effort to get here and put on the spectacle that they have because they should be very proud of themselves.”
Meanwhile, at the end of play, there was news of a further boost for Yorkshire.
Head coach Anthony McGrath revealed that Australian all-rounder Will Sutherland will extend his overseas stay with the county to play in the two Championship matches at Scarborough against Surrey and Sussex, starting later this month.
Sutherland was initially only due to play against Essex in the Championship.
On the win, McGrath added: “To play our way through this week, particularly with them being 222-1 in the first innings on a pretty benign surface, and to get the points is very, very satisfying.
“Obviously my past club and stuff like that, but whoever it was this week, we needed to get a positive result and back up a good solid performance against Notts last week.
“There’s not been many results around this week, so to get one might be vital come the end of the season.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Anthony McGrath watched Yorkshire secure a win against his former county.
