Yorkshire can be satisfied with their morning’s work having captured three Essex wickets on the opening day’s play of their County Championship match at Chelmsford, after the home side appeared to have taken full advantage of winning the toss.

Tim Bresnan and Tino Best took the new ball, with the latter struggling for control on occasions. His first spell of four overs cost 19 runs, with seven of those coming from wides and two from a no-ball.

Bresnan was altogether more economical, with figures of 5-2-5-0 before he switched ends as skipper Andrew Gale began to rotate his attack with a regular series of bowling changes.

However, Essex openers Alastair Cook and Jaik Mickleburgh looked increasingly comfortable, posting their half-century stand in the 16th over when Mickleburgh executed a flowing drive off Bresnan that raced to the long-off boundary.

Mickleburgh did enjoy a moment of good fortune against Oliver Hannon-Dalby when he was spilled at backward point by Adam Lyth, having scored 20 out of 72, but the breakthrough finally came when Adil Rashid struck in his first over of a new spell.

Mickleburgh, playing forward, got an inside edge and was bowled for 38 with the wicket falling on 97 and, without addition, Steve Patterson encouraged Cook to chase a delivery wide of off stump to be caught by Gerard Brophy for 44.

Then, with the final ball before lunch, Patterson struck again when he had Tom Westley leg before for six as the right-hander pushed forward to leave the on 120-3 at lunch ad Patterson with 2-37 from nine overs.