Harmer passes 50 wickets as Essex dominate
Essex (122-3) trail Yorkshire (208) by 86 runs
Simon Harmer claimed his sixth five-wicket haul of the summer to take his tally in the County Championship past 50 for the third successive season as Essex dismissed Yorkshire inside two sessions.
The South African off-spinner returned figures of five for 76 from 18.3 overs as Yorkshire were bowled out for 208 after electing to bat.
Patient batting took Essex to 122 for three at the close of play with Tom Westley on 52 not out. With only one score of more than 300 at Chelmsford this season, Yorkshire are still in the game, though.
Essex prematurely celebrated the wicket of Adam Lyth, believing Jamie Porter had him caught behind, but the umpire remained unmoved. Lyth drove the next ball straight to Nick Browne at point.
Gary Ballance was soon back in the pavilion as he lost his leg stump to Peter Siddle, before Porter took Will Fraine’s edge to leave Yorkshire 43 for three. Tom Kohler-cadmore became Harmer’s 50th wicket of the season as he was out lbw.
Jonathan Tattersall and Harry Brook brought up a 50 partnership off 66 balls, but Harmer struck with the final ball before lunch, bowling Brook for 46. Harmer then had Tattersall caught behind with his first delivery after lunch, leaving a hattrick in the offing. He rapped the pads of Keshav Maharaj, but to no avail. Maharaj played an aggressive cameo of 26, before Harmer had his next victim. Captain Steven Patterson was then bowled by Siddle.
Aaron Beard had Ben Coad caught behind soon after Yorkshire reached 200. Harmer then completed his five-for, his 54th wicket of the season, and ended the innings with Matt Fisher’s dismissal.
Essex’s reply started shakily. Fisher took a terrific diving, lefthanded catch to dismiss Browne, caught and bowled for eight. Alastair Cook and Westley saw the side to 42 for one at tea before Patterson had Cook caught behind for 27 early in the final session.
Westley and Dan Lawrence took Essex past 100, before Lawrence chipped a full Duanne Olivier delivery to Maharaj at midwicket. Westley was the first man to reach 50, as he and Rishi Patel saw out the day.
Essex coach Anthony Mcgrath said he thought his side could have done even better with the ball. “We’re a little disappointed with the runs we went for. But still to get five wickets at lunch without having bowled well was a great effort.”
He also emphasised the importance of Westley’s innings. “There’s only been one hundred scored here [this season]. Sometimes a fifty or 70 is worth a hundred.”