By Gary Watton
May 4 2018

The reigning champions of England were cut down to size in their own backyard in one of the most peculiar results in the history of first class cricket - no mean thing. Surpassing most freak results that have previously held sway upon planet cricket, Yorkshire proceeded to be bowled out for a laughable and pitiful fifty runs on the first morning inside twenty overs, before defying this obvious handicap to go on and win. Very rarely has any team been dismissed for such a measly total and still prevailed in the subsequent match. Clearly Essex's undoing was two innings totals which failed to reach 150. The Tykes can celebrate the mother of all remarkable wins, but batting inadequacies remain a major problem for the white rose county.

Essex versus YORKSHIRE; in Chelmsford; Friday the fourth to Sunday the sixth of May; YORKSHIRE chose to bat.

YORKSHIRE first innings: 50 (Cook.S 5-28, Siddle 4-7)

Essex first innings: 142 (Bresnan 3-26, Coad 3-27, Brooks 3-63)

YORKSHIRE second innings: 329 (Brook 124, Bairstow 50; Siddle 4-65, Porter 3-89)

Essex second innings: 146 (Patterson 6-40, Coad 3-36)

YORKSHIRE won by ninety-one runs. Essex three points, YORKSHIRE nineteen points.

Lyth - An eight-ball duck followed by a slightly better 27 appear to be par for the course for this keen golfer these days. Lythy is just a shadow of his former self.

Brook - After a three-ball duck in the first innings, Harry was 'demoted' to number three, whereupon he redeemed himself with an exceptional four-hour innings.

Pujara - The Indian was yet another who oddly saves his runs until the second innings, following up his poor effort of nine with an improved knock of forty-one runs.

Root - A first-ball duck was followed by a 35 before being bowled by part-time bowler Bopara. Even the England captain can't seem to supply many first innings runs.

Ballance - GB was the only player who reached double figures in the first-innings debacle, but he fell to Ravi Bopara with a miserable three the second time around.

Bairstow - His second-innings, compiled off only forty-four balls, actually matched his team's first innings total, of which Jonny only supplied seven runs.

Leaning - Scores of seven and then a slightly improved 29 were just so typical of a batting line-up that refuses to hit many runs until the second innings.

Bresnan - Tim was trapped leg before wicket in each innings for one and then nought. He did at least take four wickets, costing fifty-two runs, from sixteen overs.

Patterson - Patto proved, not for the first time, to be an unlikely match winner. His match figures were an extremely impressive seven for sixty-three from 26 overs.

Brooks - Jack conceded ninety runs from twenty overs which could have proved costly in a low-scoring match, but he did take the first two wickets in their reply. 

Coad - His stock continues to rise, as he outperformed Porter of Essex. His six wickets came at a measly cost, thereby improving his bowling average and strike rate.