Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Will Sutherland in action on his Yorkshire debut.
Yorkshire all-rounder Will Sutherland praised the efforts of his team-mates for keeping Essex in check during a “tough” day one at Clifton Park in York today.
Australian Sutherland was one of three wicket-takers, alongside Ben Coad and Jack White, as Essex reached close at 248-3 from 96 overs.
Tom Westley scored 107 and Dean Elgar made 94, but both faced well over 200 balls and failed to get away.
The White Rose will hope to get more fruits for their labour when they return tomorrow.
Sutherland is one of two overseas red-ball debutants in Yorkshire’s team this week, alongside Pakistani batter Abdullah Shafique. Both are playing just the one game.
Sutherland returned figures of 1-25 from nine overs and said: “It was a tough day. It’s a pretty slow and low wicket.
“We were able to control the run-rate pretty well, so we’re happy from that point of view. We’d have liked a couple more wickets. But in our review just then, Jonny Bairstow was pretty happy with the effort.
“It would have been a slow game to watch, but add two wickets to that and we’re in a reasonably good position.
“There wasn’t much help on offer. The pitch was slow, and we thought it might quicken up. But it went low as well. There’s a little bit of spin there, but it’s a grind.
“I think the opening bowlers were pretty good, Ben Coad and Jack White. They bowled a lot of overs.
“Matty Revis, that’s the best I’ve seen him bowl. He was good.
“Dom Bess bowled 15 in a row at one point and 21 for the day. There was good toil for a lot of the boys.
“It was slow going, and they’ll have to push the rate a bit tomorrow, which might play into our hands. That’s credit to us for controlling the rate.”
