Essex v Yorkshire: Yorkshire looking to conjure up final-day heroics

AFTER being cheered on for much of the third day by a self-styled Barmy Army of supporters containing not only Superman but also Spiderman and Batman, Yorkshire must today uncover a superhero or two of their own.

The White Rose county go into what, weather permitting, promises to be a captivating final day trailing Essex by 304 runs.

With the home side also having seven wickets in hand, Yorkshire are facing a potentially demanding few hours on a pitch displaying increasing signs of turn and variable bounce.

Just how long they have to spend in the middle will depend on how adventurous Essex captain James Foster intends to be with his declaration.

Either way, Yorkshire's rearguard action may have to take place without the vocal backing of the small band of 20-somethings who have followed them to the County Ground.

Whether the players will miss a group whose propensity to drink lager was only matched by an ability to irk the Essex members sitting nearby in the upper tier of the Tom Pearce Stand is debatable.

But if one thing can be taken from the noisy fancy dress-clad Tykes it is that Yorkshire need at least a couple of heroes to step forward and save the day or risk the impetus in the title race swinging firmly the way of Nottinghamshire.

Courtesy of wrapping up a 10-wicket win over Warwickshire inside three days, Nottinghamshire can wait for news of developments from Chelmsford safe in the knowledge that their points tally has already moved on to 138.

And if Andrew Gale's men do succumb today, their advantage over the men from Trent Bridge will have been slashed to just three points with Nottinghamshire also having two games in hand.

Director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon said: "A lot depends on how Essex want to play it. They could bat us out of the game, if they want to.

"Nottinghamshire winning does not bring any more pressure because the difference between a draw and a defeat is only three points.

"But we do have a big day ahead of us. The encouraging thing is (Alastair) Cook and (Ravi) Bopara have shown that if you apply yourself then you can get a big score on this pitch."

Yorkshire's need to save the game on a day when the forecast is for showers owes everything to a marvellous third-wicket stand of 199 between Bopara and Cook yesterday.

The England pair came together with Essex, if not in trouble, then at least rocking after losing two wickets in quick succession.

Jaik Mickleburgh had gone to the very first ball of the innings after playing back to Tim Bresnan and nicking the ball on to his own stumps.

Then, in the eighth over and with the score having moved on to 15, Tom Westley lost his off stump to Steve Patterson.

Suddenly, Yorkshire sensed a way back into the game despite having ended the first innings 75 runs adrift of their hosts.

Any hopes of making further inroads were, however, soon dispelled as Cook and Bopara initially consolidated before opening up after tea.

Cook, who will start today unbeaten on 90, was the first to 50, reaching the milestone by drilling a full-toss from Adil Rashid to the extra cover boundary in the 33rd over.

Bopara – dropped at second slip by Anthony McGrath off Oliver Hannon-Dalby on 38 – followed suit 10 minutes later and then went on to claim his second century of the game before being bowled by Rashid.

Earlier in the day, only some resolute batting from Rashid had ensured Yorkshire managed to extend their stay at the crease beyond lunch.

As his team-mates fell cheaply to loose shots, the 22-year-old showed tremendous maturity to hit an unbeaten 52 from 102 deliveries.

He shared in a useful 50-run stand with Steve Patterson for the eighth wicket but, otherwise, received little support with Yorkshire's pallid efforts being perhaps best summed up by Tino Best lasting just one ball before being bowled by Andy Carter.

Despite that failure, the West Indian still left the field to a raucous chant of 'Tino, Tino...' from the fancy dress-clad Yorkshire followers.

By the close, however, it was the visitors' bowling attack who were dancing to Essex's tune to leave the White Rose praying today for either rain or their own heroes to emerge.

DISPLAY OF THE DAY

Ravi Bopara

For the second time in three days, Bopara put Yorkshire to the sword by hitting 10 fours and three sixes in a valuable knock of 102 from 138 deliveries.

Essex v Yorkshire

Chelmsford: Essex (7pts) lead Yorks (6pts) by 304 runs with seven 2nd inns wkts standing.

Essex First Innings

J C Mickleburgh b A U Rashid 38

A N Cook c Brophy b Patterson 44

T Westley lbw b Patterson 6

R S Bopara c A U Rashid b Best 142

M J Walker c Bairstow b A U Rashid 26

J S Foster c Patterson b Hannon-Dalby 61

G W Flower c McGrath b A U Rashid 5

T J Phillips b A U Rashid 30

C J C Wright not out 13

M A Chambers b Best 0

A Carter c Hannon-Dalby b A U Rashid 8

Extras b10 lb6 w8 nb2 26

Total (116.5 overs) 399

Fall: 1-97 2-97 3-120 4-200 5-324 6-336 7-368 8-381 9-386.

Bowling: Bresnan 28 8 73 0, Best 16 1 63 2, Patterson 23 5 89 2, A U Rashid 25.5 7 87 5, Hannon-Dalby 14 3 54 1, McGrath 10 4 17 0.

Yorkshire First Innings

A Lyth b Wright 75

J A Rudolph c Cook b Carter 32

A McGrath c Mickleburgh b Phillips 11

A W Gale c Foster b Westley 47

J M Bairstow b Phillips 18

G L Brophy b Carter 33

T T Bresnan c & b Phillips 5

A U Rashid not out 52

S A Patterson c G W Flower b Phillips 16

T L Best b Carter 0

O J Hannon-Dalby run out 1

Extras b4 lb8 nb22 34

Total (112.1 overs) 324

Fall: 1-81 2-104 3-146 4-177 5-215 6-236 7-254 8-304 9-304

Bowling: Chambers 17 6 39 0; Wright 15 3 64 1; Phillips 44 15 94 4; Westley 10 2 25 1; Carter 24.1 3 77 3; G W Flower 2 0 13 0;

Essex Second Innings

J C Mickleburgh b Bresnan 0

A N Cook not out 90

T Westley b Patterson 7

R S Bopara b A U Rashid 102

M J Walker not out 13

Extras b6 lb9 nb2 17

Total 3 wkts (57 overs) 229

Fall: 1-0 2-15 3-214

Bowling: Bresnan 13 2 31 1; Patterson 7 2 21 1; A U Rashid 12 2 47 1; Best 9 0 45 0; Rudolph 4 1 14 0; Hannon-Dalby 6 0 35 0; McGrath 6 0 21 0;

Umpires: M R Benson and N J Llong.