Yorkshire were made to pay for their early generosity to Essex opener Will Jefferson on the first day of the Championship season at Chelmsford yesterday.

The 6ft 10in right-hander survived a run-out chance before he had scored and was then put down by Chris Silverwood at mid-on when only six.

After that, Yorkshire never looked like getting him out and he became the first Englishman of the season to score a Championship century before falling in the final over of the day for 149, Essex closing on 224 for two.

Yorkshire captain Craig White probably had some misgivings about putting Essex in to bat after the first 75 minutes of the day had been lost to bad weather. Although the pitch had a greenish tinge about it the ball did not move around as much as expected and it will be of some consolation to White to know that Ronnie Irani would also have chosen to bowl had Essex won the toss.

Matthew Hoggard shared the new ball with Yorkshire's South African debutant Deon Kruis and after the first three overs had all been maidens, Alastair Cook pushed Kruis on the off-side and set off for a run but the two batsmen stopped and started and Jefferson would have been run-out if Richard Dawson's aim from close range had been more accurate.

Yorkshire bowled tidily in the shortened morning session and off the last ball before lunch Cook had a dart outside off-stump at Ian Harvey and was caught behind by Ismail Dawood.

White was forced to use his bowlers in short spells in view of their lack of outdoor practice and Jefferson blossomed with Grant Flower during a wicketless afternoon, Jefferson playing some glorious shots in front of the wicket.

Jefferson's 50 came out of 70 for one but it took Flower 75 deliveries to move into double figures with a flick through mid-wicket off Kruis.

The century stand came off 35 overs and Jefferson hit McGrath for consecutive boundaries to reach three figures off 152 balls with 16 cleanly struck boundaries.

It was in some desperation that Yorkshire called up Michael Lumb as their seventh bowler but he got his third delivery to straighten and trap Jefferson lbw.