Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale hailed Steve Patterson’s form after the seam bowler claimed six wickets yesterday to hand Yorkshire a thumping three-day LV= County Championship win over Essex at Scarborough.

The 26-year-old took four wickets in the morning session to complete a maiden first-class five-wicket haul as the visitors subsided to 206 all out 50 minutes before lunch after starting the day at 159-5.

Patterson, with figures of 5-50 from 19.5 overs, then claimed 2-19 from ten overs to bowl the visitors out for 214 second time around.

After the innings and 96-run victory, Yorkshire’s third in five division one matches, Gale said: “I’m pleased for Patto. He’s worked very hard, and has deserved a chance in the first team. He’s taking that chance.”

This was only the 15th Championship match of Patterson’s career since making his debut in 2006. But, as Gale hinted, he is making himself hard to drop. Gale added: “Patto’s bowled well all year. He bowls straight and full, so is always asking questions of the batsmen. He gets a lot of lbw and bowled.”

The 23 points claimed by the White Rose means they extend their lead at the top of the table, although they will only find out today by how many points after the other matches have finished.

“It was a perfect display all round. I think everyone made vital contributions throughout the game,” said Gale. “The lads are growing in confidence all the time with every win that we gain.

“I’ve told the lads this was a top effort. The way we went about our business was brilliant. The belief is there, the enthusiasm is there, and the performances we are putting in are first class.”

Gale became the first Tykes captain to enforce the follow-on in successive matches for half a century yesterday.

While leg-spinner Adil Rashid claimed the last three wickets of the match, Tino Best, Rich Pyrah and Oliver Hannon-Dalby all chipped in with two.

Best claimed another wicket in either innings – he finished with 3-54 from 15 first innings overs – while Hannon-Dalby removed openers Billy Godleman and Alastair Cook in the second innings and Pyrah got Jaik Mickleburgh and James Foster in the afternoon.

Yorkshire, who completed victory with 14 overs of day three to spare, will travel back to Leeds today before facing Derbyshire in the Clydesdale Bank 40 at Headingley on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Gale will have an injection in his right elbow on Monday to ease an ongoing issue he has. He will miss next week’s three-day home friendly against Loughborough University.