Twelve months ago Yorkshire CCC suffered the heartbreak of relegation from the County Championship 1st division, after a dismal campaign. However this time around they enjoyed a much more fruitful season, which saw them bounce back to the top division at the first time of asking. On the final day of the season Yorkshire missed out on the title to Derbyshire, but sealed promotion by hammering Essex, in a match which off spinner Azeem Rafiq shone with both bat and ball.
The margin between Yorkshire and the eventual titlists Derbyshire could not have been smaller, as in the end the team from the East Midlands earned the prestige of lifting the trophy on the basis of the numbers of games won, after both teams finished the season level on points. It’s been a superb season for the county which has seen them remain unbeaten throughout, yet the weather has prevented more wins, and potentially some losses.
Yorkshire progressed into their final match of the season against Essex knowing that a win would almost certainly assure them of promotion, and they duly delivered. After deciding to bat at Chelmsford, Yorkshire amassed 312 in their first innings, with half centuries from Adam Lyth and Rafiq, as well as other useful contributions throughout the order, on what was shown not to be an easy batting surface.
In response Essex struggled to deal with Yorkshire’s bowling attack as they slipped to 33-4. The hard hitting Ryan ten Doeschate started to restore the damage, but when he was the seventh man to depart for 62, with the scoreboard only on 147 the momentum was in Yorkshire’s favour. Moin Ashraf then continued his promising season by concluding the innings, and taking the final three wickets to finish with impressive figures of 4-36. Rafiq also picked up three valuable wickets to help skittle the home side out for only 177.
Essex had narrowly avoided the follow on, and thus it was Yorkshire’s turn to bat again. Early wickets rocked the Yorkshire boat, and despite a second half century from Lyth, Yorkshire were in a tricky position at 111-6. However Anthony McGrath and the outstanding Rafiq both scored half centuries to guide Yorkshire to a healthy lead, as they declared on 252-8.
Essex required 388 runs to win, but never looked like getting near to their total as they were dismissed for only 144 to hand Yorkshire a comfortable victory by a margin of 239 runs. Rafiq completed his man of the match display by recording an excellent five wicket haul in the final innings, and was ably supported by Steven Patterson who grabbed four wickets himself. Indeed it was Patterson who sealed the victory, knocking over Tymal Mills’ stumps to end the home side’s meagre resistance. Indeed the only fight from Essex came in the shape of former England player Owais Shah, who was unbeaten on 71, but no other batsmen passed twenty in a disappointing display.
Yet there was nothing disappointing about Yorkshire’s performance, and after the dismay of last year, it is jubilation this time around. The promotion adds to an already successful campaign, which saw Yorkshire as T20 runners up, a position which has handed them a lucrative trip to this year’s Champions League, to play the best sides from across the world. For now though they are basking in the success of their County Championship campaign, and having a rest after what has been a long and tiring year of cricket.