YORKSHIRE staged a dramatic comeback win over Essex at Scarborough yesterday, beating the Eagles by three wickets in a Metro Bank One-Day Cup game that looked to be a lost cause.

Ben Coad and Ben Cliff took three wickets apiece to restrict the visitors to 243-7, but when the Vikings’ reply slid to 123-6, they looked to have no chance of victory.

Yet James Wharton showed his growing maturity with an excellent 71, before Dom Bess (53 not out) and Coad (26no) put on a magnificent unbroken 60 for the eighth wicket to guide Yorkshire home with 11 balls to spare.

Cliff got the hosts off to the perfect start, taking two early wickets, including that of Essex captain Tom Westley for a duck, to ensure the visitors slid to 27-3.

But Luc Benkenstein (68) and Robin Das (67) led an excellent recovery from the Eagles, putting on 125 for the fourth wicket.

At 185-4 with just over 10 overs to go, Essex looked set to post a big score, only for Yorkshire to take four wickets for five runs.

But No.10 Ben Allison batted superbly at the back end of the innings, helping his side bounce back from 190-8 to post a final total of 243-9.

Coad finished with 3-41, while his fellow opening bowler Cliff claimed 3-54.

Ben Coad was in outstanding form with the ball in the County Championship earlier in the summer, and he has kept that up in the One-Day Cup.Ben Coad was in outstanding form with the ball in the County Championship earlier in the summer, and he has kept that up in the One-Day Cup. (Image: John Heald Photography.)

Matthew Revis, George Hill and Dan Moriarty all chipped in with a wicket apiece, but former England off-spinner Dom Bess only bowled one over in the whole innings.

But Yorkshire made a nightmare start with the bat, Fin Bean and Harry Duke falling cheaply to Shane Snater to leave them floundering on 18-2.

Wharton and captain Shan Masood fought back superbly in partnership, putting on 84 together before the latter was dismissed for 58 to leave the hosts on 104-3.

When Will Luxton fell for 16, and was then quickly followed back to the pavilion by Hill and Revis, Yorkshire’s race looked run at 123-6.

But then Wharton found a willing partner in Bess, with the pair putting on 61 for the seventh wicket.

That dragged Yorkshire right back into the game, before Wharton was dismissed for an excellent 71, caught brilliantly by Nick Browne off teenage paceman Noah Thain.

Yorkshire would not have got anywhere near chasing the Essex total down were it not for James Wharton's superb innings of 71.Yorkshire would not have got anywhere near chasing the Essex total down were it not for James Wharton's superb innings of 71. (Image: Ray Spencer.)

Yet Bess ploughed on, and he and Coad produced a masterclass in holding their nerve.

Yorkshire are now joint-third in Group B alongside Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire and know a top-three finish will see them make the quarter-finals later this month.

They face Leicestershire in the competition tomorrow, with whoever loses that encounter facing an uphill battle to reach the knockout stages.