Essex open up healthy lead on day one v Yorkshire
Captain Tom Westley's determined 107 represented his second successive century in the Rothesay County Championship as his Essex side enjoyed a healthy but not dominant day one against relegation rivals Yorkshire at York.Former South Africa Test captain Dean Elgar fell narrowly short of scoring his first century of the season, falling for an opening 94 off 248 balls late on during an attritional day which Essex closed on 248-3 from 96 overs.Westley, who hit 12 fours in 239 balls, shared 198 for the second wicket with left-handed Elgar from early morning to late evening.The pair came together with the score on 24 during the opening exchanges of a Division One clash which had started with Westley opting to bat first on a glorious Minster City day.Yorkshire and Essex came into contest separated by 14 points in the table, the former occupying ninth place - the second relegation spot ahead of Worcestershire - and the latter in eighth.Elgar will be mightily frustrated at not batting through the entire day, while Westley has had quite the week. Both fell against the second new ball to seamers Will Sutherland and Ben Coad.This Westley innings coming hot on the heels of his 130 not out on the final day against Hampshire at Chelmsford on Wednesday, helping to secure a draw when a defeat had been a distinct possibility at the start of the day.Both sides handed debuts to a trio of overseas players between them.
Australian all-rounder Sutherland and Pakistani batter Abdullah Shafique are playing only one match apiece for Yorkshire, with Indian seamer Khaleel Ahmed starting his half-season stint with Essex.Essex enjoyed much the better of the morning, despite losing opener Paul Walter when he was caught at second slip off a leading edge as he looked to whip Jack White to leg in the 10th over.Elgar's first of 11 boundaries was beautifully pushed down the ground off George Hill's bowling and later reached his fifty off 116 balls - in the same over which saw Westley get to the same milestone off 90.By that stage, Essex were 117-1 in the 39th.Westley was the more aggressive of the two batters, though neither were able to cut loose from a Yorkshire bowling attack who kept things tight with the Kookaburra ball and kicked the door ajar late on.
Aside from a lack of wickets, there weren't a plethora of chances created by Yorkshire's bowlers, who had to deal with a lack of movement and pace in the pitch.The one obvious one that did arrive, Adam Lyth was unable to hold on at slip off Dom Bess's off-spin with Elgar on 69 shortly before tea, where Essex reached at 164-1 from 64 overs.The day's first of only five extras came at the start of the 67th over, a leg bye as Bess bowled to Elgar. That indicated the discipline from Yorkshire's bowling attack.The hope is that the pitch will break up as the contest goes on to bring the likes of Bess and Essex's off-spinner Simon Harmer more into things.If not, supporters and players alike could be in for a long four days.When Westley, who was classy on the drive, reached his latest century off 227 balls, Essex were 206-1 in the 83rd over, the new ball now in operation.However, both fell in successive overs as Essex fell from 222-1 to 226-3 in the 87th.Westley was trapped lbw playing back against Coad before pulling Elgar, who was caught behind one-handed down leg by Bairstow off Sutherland.England fringe batter Jordan Cox will begin day two unbeaten on 13.ECB Reporters' Network supported by Rothesay
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