Yorkshire thrash Essex with a day to spare

YORKSHIRE overpowered Essex by an innings and 96 runs at Scarborough to extend their lead at the top of the LV County Championship First Division table.

It was a powerful performance by resurgent Yorkshire and their hero of the day was paceman Steven Patterson who picked up a career-best five for 50 as Essex were forced to follow on 310 runs behind.

Dispirited Essex were then bowled out a second time for 214 with 14 overs of the third day remaining, Yorkshire picking up 23 points to their opponents' two.

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Yorkshire had also enforced the follow-on in their previous match against Durham, making it the first time they had done so in consecutive games for 50 years.

Patterson wasted no time in getting among the wickets, his sixth ball of the morning trapping James Foster lbw offering no stroke to leave Essex on 159 for five.

Ryan ten Doeschate hit two fine cover boundaries off Tino Best before the West Indies quick gained revenge with an lbw verdict from one which nipped back, but it was Patterson who went on to wipe out the remainder of the batting.

David Masters fell to a tremendous left-handed catch low down at cover by Joe Sayers before Chris Wright was bowled just after Essex had collected their only batting bonus point.

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Patterson's fifth wicket came when Tim Phillips drove to Adil Rashid in the covers, the second half of the batting having collapsed in the first hour of play.

Following on, Essex were soon in even deeper trouble as both openers were sent back by Oliver Hannon-Dalby inside the first eight overs.

Billy Godleman was snapped up low at third slip by Rashid in the paceman's opening over and England opener Alastair Cook drove too casually outside off stump and was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow.

Patterson was causing further problems for the visitors soon after lunch and he had John Maunders caught by Bairstow but Jaik Mickleburgh and skipper Mark Pettini tried to restore some dignity for the visitors, before yet another inspired bowling change by Andrew Gale resulted in an immediate breakthrough.

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Richard Pyrah's first ball was a straight one which had Mickleburgh lbw and the medium-pacer then found extra bounce outside off-stump, Foster's edge bringing Bairstow his third catch.

Essex were 136 for five at tea and in a moment of petulance, Best, bowling at the pavilion end, hurled the ball back at Bairstow after Pettini had pushed at it defensively, but it went well wide of the wicketkeeper for four overthrows.

Gale managed to calm the bowler and Best went on to end Pettini's brave innings of 47 with an express delivery that caught him lbw.

All real resistance was effectively ended as ten Doeschate drilled Patterson straight to Adam Lyth at mid-wicket for 35.

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Masters and Wright were both smartly stumped by Bairstow off Rashid and the match was ended by the leg-spinner as he got last man Chris Martin lbw.

Keep checking the website for updates throughout the day.