Dom Bess and David Willey inspired a remarkable and successful fourth evening Yorkshire victory pursuit against Sussex at Emerald Headingley, secured with only 32 balls remaining.
The international duo claimed five of six wickets to fall after tea as Sussex slipped from 180-4 to 215 all out, with Bess finishing with 4-51 from 35 overs.
Sussex had looked set to hold on. Having conceded a first-innings lead of 245 late on day three of this LV= Insurance County Championship fixture, they reached tea at 165-4 with 35 overs remaining.
Pitch conditions were in their favour – slow and not offering much help for the bowlers – and debutant opener Ali Orr hit 67 and Aaron Thomason 52.
But Bess and Willey both returned double wicket maidens to give Yorkshire a victory in similar fashion to how they were beaten by Lancashire at Old Trafford last week.
Captain Steve Patterson took the winning wicket when he bowled Ben Brown, confirming a win by an innings and 30 runs.
The White Rose moved within four points of Group Three leaders Lancashire with their fourth win in eight games.
Thomason opened the door with a loose drive at Bess and was caught at slip.
Yorkshire’s 23 points also moved them 12 clear of third-placed Northamptonshire with them and Lancashire their final two group opponents next month.
Spare a thought for Sussex, who battled hard for the majority of this fixture to stay with the hosts as Dawid Malan scored his brilliant 199.
Ultimately, the harsh reality for them is that Thomason’s departure opened the door for Steve Patterson’s men to charge through and put themselves firmly on course for August’s top group when the competition splits.
Bess had Thomason and Dan Ibrahim caught at slip.
Willey then had Jack Carson caught at leg slip, Stuart Meaker caught at short leg and Henry Crocombe caught behind fending at a short one.
That left Sussex, having been 180-4, at 187-9 with almost 17 overs remaining. Brown and Jamie Atkins, however, heightened nerves with a 10th-wicket stand.
Orr, 20, is one of nine first-class debutants for Sussex since the start of last season’s Bob Willis Trophy, including two this week. Ibrahim, 16, is the other and scored 55 in the first innings.
During the morning, Bess broke a 60-run opening partnership between Orr and Tom Haines, who was acrobatically caught by Adam Lyth running around from slip.
Three balls later, in the 35th over, Jordan Thompson had Stiaan van Zyl caught behind for nought as Sussex slipped to 61-2.
Yorkshire’s next success did not come until the 70th over when Orr was bowled driving at Bess – 125-3 with almost 50 overs remaining.
Ben Coad then had Travis Head caught behind just before tea, but even then there was no sign of the madness which followed.
Not only did this finish evoke memories of last week’s Roses defeat when Yorkshire fell 40 balls short of holding on for a draw, it is the second thrilling finish at Emerald Headingley this season after the one-run win over Northamptonshire.
