Yorkshire collapse to Grayson as Essex snatch consolation victory

Left-arm spinner Paul Grayson returned career-best figures of five for 20 against his former county as bottom club Essex pulled off a remarkable victory over CricInfo Championship winners Yorkshire on the final day of the season at Scarborough today.

Essex triumphed by 51 runs with 20 overs to spare after Yorkshire had been set a 319 target off a minimum of 65 overs.

It looked as if Yorkshire were cruising it as Michael Vaughan and Anthony McGrath thrashed 204 together for the third wicket after openers Chris Taylor and Matthew Wood had been dismissed without a run scored.

After taking a few overs to play themselves in, Vaughan and McGrath produced every shot in the book with Essex using seven bowlers in a vain attempt to stop the carnage.

Vaughan just beat his partner to the 50 mark before he took complete charge, dashing to his century from 80 balls with 15 fours and three sixes.

Grayson, who did not join the attack until the score was 186 for two, eventually broke the stand by having McGrath caught on the boundary edge for 70 from 86 balls with eight fours and a six and he struck again in his next over to send back Vaughan for 113 with 16 fours and four sixes from 89 deliveries.

Vaughan was out on the stroke of tea when Yorkshire were 212 for four and needing a further 107 but Grayson continued his demolish job after the interval along with paceman Joe Grant, the last five wickets tumbling for nine runs in three overs.

Having started out in the morning on 48 for three and leading by 194, Essex worked their way steadily to 172 for eight before declaring to bring forward the lunch interval.

Captain Ronnie Irani provided the backbone to the Essex innings, making sure that too many wickets did not go down too soon.

Irani completed his half century off 77 balls with seven boundaries and he was unbeaten on 51 when he made his declaration upon the dismissal of Ashley Cowan.

Steven Kirby and off-spinner Andy Gray each claimed three wickets and the other two were taken by Hoggard who had career best figures of six for 51 in the first innings.