Yorkshire batsman Lyth showing no sign of slowing down

The 23-year-old opener was again in imperious form to reach his 11th half-century of the season as the Tykes fought back on day two of their clash with Essex at Chelmsford.

Lyth’s fine knock of 75 helped his side to 227-5 at the close, meaning they are 172 runs behind their hosts’ first-innings total.

Captain Andrew Gale said: “Adam has played superbly all season. It was a bit disappointing that he did not go on to get a really big score but that is being ultra-critical.”

Lyth’s inability to reach three figures and more is the only frustrating aspect of his game at the moment.

He has already amassed 1,142 runs but his dismissal at the County Ground was the seventh time this season that he has been out within 25 runs of a century.

Lyth’s innings was still vital to Yorkshire’s performance though, leaving the game intriguingly poised at the midway point.

First of all it was Bradford-born Adil Rashid who excelled with the ball. He picked up three early wickets to help make sure Essex collapsed from 353-6 overnight to 399 all out.

It meant the in-form leg-spinner finished with season’s-best figures of 5-87 and the theme of Yorkshire being on top for much of the day had been set.

Certainly the start Jacques Rudoph and Lyth then made with the bat suggested the Tykes knew they had some momentum.

They raced to 81 before Rudolph nudged a short Andy Carter delivery to Alastair Cook at first slip for 32.

Bradfordian Anthony McGrath quickly came and went for only 11 but Lyth continued to punish the Essex attack until he was surprisingly bowled around the legs by Chris White.

His wicket was one of three to fall in the final session to take the gloss off a good performance, with Jonny Bairstow (18) and Gale (47) also back in the pavilion.

Fortunately Gerard Brophy, not out on 25, and Tim Bresnan, unbeaten on three, made sure the home side would have no more late success.