YORKSHIRE CCC had a long wait before they could pick up their first bonus point of the season on the second day of their County Championship match with Essex at Chelmsford yesterday.

Heavy morning rain prevented any play until after tea when Essex resumed in sunshine on 224-2 with only 32 of the day's overs remaining.

Partnered by talented teenager Ravinder Bopara, Grant Flower continued at his leisurely pace until he pulled a short ball from Matthew Hoggard in front of square leg and was well caught low down by Michael Lumb.

Yorkshire were glad to see the back of the Zimbabwean who had spent 249 minutes and 228 balls shaping his 65 which contained nine cleanly struck boundaries.

No sooner had Yorkshire got rid of one Flower than another began to take root as Grant's brother, Andy, the former Zimbabwe captain, built up a fourth wicket partnership with Bopara.

Flower had two fortunate moments early on, first being short of his crease when Lumb's throw at the stumps went wide and then surviving a very sharp chance off Ian Harvey when Anthony McGrath jumped high at gully but could only palm the ball over his head.

Twice in one over Chris Silverwood was punished by Bopara for straying wide of leg-stump and at 278-3 McGrath came on for a couple of overs before the new ball was taken and Hoggard was brought back to have Bopara clipping another low catch to the alert Lumb at mid-wicket.

Essex were 301-4, having just collected a third batting bonus point, and captain Ronnie Irani was soon tested by a Hoggard bouncer when he joined Flower but there was insufficient pace in the pitch to cause him any problems.

Yorkshire tried hard for another breakthrough and even brought on Lumb for the final over but, unlike the previous evening at the same stage, he was unable to take a wicket and Essex closed on 327-4 in 110 overs, Flower having made 34 and Irani 11.

Updated: 10:06 Friday, April 15, 2005