Essex v Yorkshire (day three report): Brook and Patterson shine for Yorkshire

The seamer sent back Alastair Cook, Tom Westley, Nick Browne and Ravi Bopara in the space of 21 balls to knock the stuffing out of an Essex batting line-up that had been set an intriguing 238 to win between now and Bank Holiday Monday. By the close on the second day, Essex still required 141 runs with six wickets intact.

On a second day of extreme swings of the pendulum, Essex, unbeaten last season, were left tantalisingly close to their first Championship defeat since September 2016, when they were beaten by Glamorgan at Chelmsford in the game that confirmed their promotion to Division One. All, however, is not won or lost yet.

Yorkshire had appeared set fair to give Essex a significantly more demanding total when they reached 276 for three. But they then lost seven wickets for 53 runs, Jamie Porter taking three of them, and Peter Siddle finishing with four for 65, eight for 72 in the match.

That Yorkshire recovered from 50 all out in their first innings thanks to the statement of intent issued from makeshift opener Jonny Bairstow, who hit 50 on the first evening. It was carried on by 19-year-old Harry Brook, who scored his maiden first-class century, improving his highest score from 38 to 124 in the process. He was eventually out after 187 balls, 13 fours, a six and a fourth-wicket stand of 86 with England captain Joe Root.

Chasing that 238 target in a nominal 224 overs after Yorkshire posted 329, the Essex openers rode their luck. Jack Brooks put down a caught-and-bowled chance before Browne had scored, and Jack Leaning failed to hang on in the slips when Cook had 20. It mattered little in the overall scheme of things.

Cook had advanced to 26 when he tried to turn Steven Patterson through the onside and got tucked up. Three balls later, Tom Westley was pinned lbw for a four-ball pair and his third duck in a row, having faced three balls against Hampshire last week.