McGrath hundred leads Yorkshire batting

Yorkshire 313 for 3 v Essex
Scorecard

Anthony McGrath scored a special century as Yorkshire's batsmen made excellent progress on the first day of their Championship match against Essex at Scarborough.

It was the former captain's 30th first-class century for the White Rose county and the first one that he has ever taken off the Essex attack. Now only four counties remain to be added to his list (Surrey, Notts, Northants and Sussex) for him to complete the full set.

Current captain Andrew Gale was also in splendid form and he and McGrath had put on an unbroken 163 together by the close when Yorkshire had reached 313 for 3 after winning the toss, McGrath having moved on to a gritty 112 and Gale a fluent 89.

New Zealand paceman Chris Martin, making his Championship debut for Essex, shared the new ball with David Masters, and although there was some movement through the air and off the seam it could not prevent Adam Lyth from getting off to a cracking start with some great shots.

Joe Sayers also hit a fine cover boundary off Masters, but having contributed only five to a stand of 32 in six overs he edged Martin into the waiting hands of Alastair Cook at first slip. Lyth continued to look a class act while McGrath took time to settle in and it came as something of a surprise when the young left-hander was out for 47. An intended drive at Ryan ten Doeschate appeared to deflect off either his pad or glove and into his stumps.

Yorkshire remained in control as Jacques Rudolph continued his recent great form and the morning session belonged to the home side who went in to lunch on 109 for 2. Rudolph quickly scored his 500th run of the season after the interval and Essex were left to rue a glaring miss when McGrath had reached 33, the batsman edging Martin straight into and out of Cook's hands at first slip.

Having amassed an unbeaten 228 against Durham last week, Rudolph appeared to have laid the foundations for another huge score but in trying to drive a swinging delivery from Ten Doeschate he gave the bowler a return catch and Yorkshire were 150 for 3.

The dismissal did not worry the hosts too much, however, as McGrath and Gale went on to combine in the biggest stand of the day, although it took McGrath a little over three hours to complete his 50 off 133 balls with seven fours.

McGrath opened out to drive spinner Tim Phillips for an off-drive six into the pavilion enclosure, whereas Gale's half-century was a much speedier affair than his partner's, coming off only 47 balls with seven fours and a six.

After a good spell from Phillips, Essex took the new ball at 288 for 3 off 86 overs and McGrath immediately scampered the single that brought up his five-hour century from 244 deliveries, with 14 boundaries. A tough day for the visitors got even worse when McGrath, on 106, was put down for a second time, John Maunders at second slip dropping him off Masters.