Yorkshire’s one-day struggles on their pre-season tour of Barbados continued today with a 40-over defeat at the hands of Essex at the 3 Ws Oval.

The White Rose county, on the back of successive Twenty20 losses to the University of the West Indies and Derbyshire over the weekend, failed to defend 202 on a good batting track.

Opener Billy Godleman top-scored for the Eagles with 50 as his side won by four wickets in the last over.

Andrew Gale’s men will now travel to the Foursquare ground tomorrow for a third-placed play-off game against Derbyshire.

Yorkshire, who lost the toss and were invited to bat, were in trouble early on at 30 for two, having lost both openers, Gale and Joe Root, within the first eight overs.

Jonny Bairstow top-scored for the Tykes with 61 off 68 balls, including three fours and three sixes, and he shared a fifth wicket partnership of 68 in 14 overs with Lee Hodgson (26).

Gale, who received a nasty blow on the hand yet took with field with his side later in the day, was comprehensively bowled by the pacey Maurice Chambers before Root was castled by Chris Wright.

Gary Ballance added a useful 35 off 50 balls to help recover from the ropey start, while David Wainwright added a late 20 off 14.

Wainwright was playing his first game of the tour after a knee injury.

Left-arm spinner Tim Phillips was the pick of the Essex bowling with figures of two for 23 from his seven overs.

Essex openers Pettini and Godleman got their side off to a fine start – and, even though Hodgson removed Pettini and Joe Sayers bowled Matthew Walker with his part-time off-spin, the Eagles were still ahead of the rate.

Wainwright, Rich Pyrah and a run out left Essex at 180 for five in the 36th over, but Tom Westley saw his side home.

Meanwhile, wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy expects to play tomorrow after recovering from ankle surgery during the winter.