By John Virr – 2nd X1 Scorer
Essex won the toss and asked Yorkshire to bat first. Skipper, Noah Kelly was the first wicket to fall with the score on 19 – he was caught at 3rd slip for 4 made from 25 balls. His opening partner, Will Luxton continued his fine form from last week but having made 47 from 51 balls with 6 fours he was caught behind – 59-2.
Harry Duke was the 3rd wicket to fall before lunch – 17 from 42 with a four and at lunch we were 101-3; Jawad Akhtar 26 no from 43 balls. However, he was lbw only 10 balls into the afternoon session – 106-4.
Owen Smith and Matthew Milnes added 31 from 57 balls before the latter was run out for 22 from 32; Joe Thompson was bowled in the same over and we were 147-6. Ben Cliff was caught at 2nd slip for 2 and Hishaam Khan made 9 before being bowled – 170-8.
Smith went on to make a maiden 2nd X1 half century from 96 balls but was lbw for 55 and Yorkshire were all out for 195.
Browne and Connell opened the Essex reply and the former was well taken at 3rd slip by Kelly to give Milnes his first victim: Connell was lbw to Matt Rees for 9 and Essex were 30-2.
Rashid joined Fernandes and survived being dropped on 3 – he went on to make 65 from 71 balls with 11 fours before he fell to an excellent running catch at mid on by Kelly to give Harry Sullivan his first wicket. Fernandes was unbeaten at the close on 40 from 74 balls with 3 fours but Dwivedi was caught at short leg for 4 by Smith as Sullivan claimed his 2nd.
Day 2 will start with Essex trailing by 54 runs with 6 wickets remaining.
