Yorkshire had to endure another roasting from an Australian at Chelmsford yesterday as Stuart Law rattled up a century which greatly assisted Essex in making 335 all out to give them a first innings lead of 24.

It was less than appeared likely with Law in full flow, however, and Yorkshire were spared an uncomfortable three overs at the end of the day when bad light prevented a start to their second innings.

Two games ago, Jamie Cox plundered Yorkshire's attack for 173 at Taunton to send Somerset on their way to a six wicket win and at Headingley on Monday Justin Langer thrashed an unbeaten 127 as Middlesex cantered home by five wickets.

Now it was Law's turn to flog some at times mediocre bowling to all parts and he had made a dashing 159 when Matthew Hoggard suddenly skittled his stumps with a lethal yorker.

Any hopes Yorkshire entertained of going on to register maximum batting bonus points for the first time this season were dashed in the morning when they lost their last three wickets for the addition of just seven runs to close on 311.

Although Yorkshire's bowling generally lacked discipline there were enough good balls to reduce Essex to 67 for three before Law got into the groove, first with acting captain Ronnie Irani and then with former Yorkshire all-rounder Paul Grayson.

In Chris Silverwood's second over, Paul Prichard lobbed a catch off the splice of his bat to Matthew Wood at short leg and at 23 Ian Flanagan was caught at second slip by David Byas nibbling at Hoggard.

Too many balls, particularly from Hoggard, were being sprayed around and Law looked in ominously good form but at 67 he lost opener Darren Robinson who suddenly received a beauty from Sidebottom and could not avoid making contact.

Law and Irani both drove crisply to take their stand to 50 in 11 overs and Law galloped to his own half-century by cutting Ian Fisher for his seventh boundary. Byas turned to Greg Blewett in an attempt to break the stand and it worked with the Australian picking up his first wicket for Yorkshire as Irani was bowled aiming loosely into the covers.Irani had contributed 48 to his 95 stand with Law who dominated the 94 partnership which followed with Grayson to such an extent that his share of the runs was 70.

Law then set his sights on Fisher, driving him out of the ground with a straight six and following up this shot with consecutive cover drives for four to race to his century off 141 balls.

Essex piled up 140 runs in the afternoon, but in the evening session Law was hit on the right forearm by a ball from Craig White and had to have it heavily bandaged before continuing.

It was a good ball from White that knocked down Grayson's stumps after which Law steamed to his 150 before Hoggard dug in a perfect yorker to end a quality innings stretched over 219 balls with 19 fours and a six.

Ashley Cowan drove to Silverwood and mid-off in Hoggard's next over and with the bowlers finding new bursts of energy, Essex gently subsided.

Ilott was trapped in front of his stumps by Sidebottom and White rounded things off by having Such caught at point with last man Jamie Grove becoming an lbw victim three balls later.

York's Young guns aiming to fire back

by Peter Vine

York Cricket Club's young players must put the bitter disappointment of double defeat in the Oxbridge Yorkshire ECB County Premier behind them as they face another gruelling weekend.

They travel to Scarborough in the league tomorrow followed by a visit to the Central Yorkshire League's Gomersal in the third round of the NCA National Cricket Club Knock Out on Sunday.

York skipper Ian Dews, reflecting on last week's league losses against Sheffield Collegiate and Harrogate, said: "We missed some senior players in the middle order, but don't forget that we had two 17-year-olds and another 18-year-old in the top five of our batting order, and our bowlers gave Harrogate a fright defending our lowly total of 147 all out.

"What we need now is to get some of our players back in form."

Julian Ramsey takes over from Dan Copeland and schoolboy Nick Kay is missing as he is revising for some examinations.James Lupton is also absent this week as he gets on with his move to the Manchester area.

Scarborough make one team change tomorrow as Gary Jones is still suffering from a virus infection, his place being taken by Ashley Lyth, son of the well-known Whitby stalwart Alistair Lyth. Ashley scored over 40 in the recent defeat against Clifton Alliance in the National Club KO.

After their brilliant double over Hull and York in the league last weekend, Harrogate face another two games over the weekend with Barnsley visiting St George's Road tomorrow in the league, while on Sunday they travel to take on one of the leading lights in the Central Yorkshire League, Townville, who beat Castleford to reach this stage of the National Knockout Competition.

John Proud, the Harrogate skipper, is not treating last season's wooden spoonists, Barnsley, as a 'push-over' by any means after learning that that their registered overseas player, Richie Kapoor from Bombay, hammered a ton off the Scarborough bowlers last Sunday.

He reached 102 off 128 balls in 148 minutes at North Marine Road last Sunday and will be remembered for the fine centuries he scored last season against Sheffield Collegiate and Driffield.

Harrogate will be without Victor Craven following his selection as twelth man with Yorkshire against Essex this week so Proud leaves the selection of his replacement until later today.

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