Essex v Yorkshire: Gale and Rudolph charge into record books in emphatic style

The pair added an unbroken 233 as Yorkshire romped to a 10-wicket victory in their inaugural match in the Clydesdale Bank 40.

Yorkshire captain Gale scored 125, his maiden one-day hundred, and Rudolph 101 as Essex suffered their heaviest one-day defeat.

The pair eclipsed Yorkshire's previous highest one-day league opening partnership of 201, made by John Hampshire and Bill Athey against Leicestershire at Leicester in 1978, and also achieved Yorkshire's highest one-day league partnership for any wicket.

Had it not been for the fact the visitors restricted Essex to 232-9 after winning the toss, West Indian fast bowler Tino Best taking 4-46 on debut, Gale and Rudolph would probably have surpassed Yorkshire's highest first-wicket stand in any one day cricket – the unbeaten 242 compiled by current director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon and Ashley Metcalfe in a NatWest Trophy game against Worcestershire at Headingley in 1990.

As it was, they delivered a breathtaking exhibition of clean, selective hitting to blow away a side who simply had no answer to their power and placement.

After steering Yorkshire home with 4.1 overs to spare, both men reflected on a day that will live long in the memory.

"To win by 10 wickets was very, very special," contended Gale. "When we got to within 100 runs of the target, Jacques and myself said we wanted to take the team home by ourselves and I'm delighted we did that.

"Yorkshire haven't been very successful down here at Chelmsford since I've been playing one-day cricket – Essex have beaten us in a couple of knockout tournaments – and I said to the lads before the match we owed them one.

"To win like we did was a brilliant feeling."

Rudolph, who recorded his ninth one-day century, described it as "one of the most special victories of my career."

The South African added: "My partnership with Galey over the last few years has been successful and I think we complement each other in the fact that he's more of an aggressor and I'm more of a stroke player, an accumulator.

"Essex are a quality team – possibly one of the best one-day teams over the last couple of years – and I think we can take a lot from this win.

"I also thought Tino Best produced one of the quickest spells I've ever seen standing in the slips, and I think he's a really exciting prospect for us – particularly in the Championship."

The match began beneath cloudy skies which soon gave way to glorious sunshine and with Best bowling like the wind from the Hayes Close End.

The 28-year-old Bajan, signed until at least the end of May, struck with his sixth ball when he produced a yorker from heaven to uproot England batsman Alastair Cook's middle stump.

As the stump went cart-wheeling, Best tore away in the direction of the pavilion in one of the most exuberant celebrations one could possibly witness.

In that moment he proved his stated desire to win a longer contract, while with that one ball he showed why Yorkshire could do worse than keep him.

Essex slipped to 19-2 in the fourth over when Steve Patterson had Jaik Mickleburgh caught at mid-on by pace bowler Ben Sanderson, who was making his List A debut, but the home team rallied through Mark Pettini and Grant Flower.

The pair added 81 in 16 overs before Pettini, after reaching a fine half-century, was caught by Gale at backward point off David Wainwright.

Best – blisteringly quick if a tad expensive – had Ryan ten Doeschate caught behind and later struck twice in two balls to have Tom Westley lbw and Tim Phillips caught at mid-wicket. How David Masters kept out the hat-trick ball – a searing yorker – is not known.

Flower went on to a stylish, run-a-ball 113 but Essex's total seemed 40 runs short.

Gale and Rudolph were straight into their stride and matched each other blow for blow as 44 runs arrived in the first eight overs of fielding restrictions.

There was just one chance – a difficult one when Gale, on 30, leathered a delivery from Chris Wright and was dropped at backward-point by Phillips.

Otherwise it was a tale of Yorkshire dominance as Essex's bowling and fielding became increasingly ragged in the face of sustained pressure.

While Yorkshire's celebrations continued home up the M11, the Essex players were kept locked in their dressing room for over an hour after the match.

As a contest it had been a spectacular non-event; as a statement of intent from Gale and his players it had been absolutely emphatic.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Gale and Rudolph

Gale scored 125 from 115 balls with 12 fours and three sixes, while Rudolph made 101 from 102 deliveries with 13 fours.