IF you believe the weather forecast for the Scarborough area today, the players of Yorkshire and Essex will be arriving at North Marine Road two by two.

Rain is supposed to hit the North Yorkshire coastal town by the bucketful, and it would be a major kick in the teeth for the White Rose camp if their chances of winning this LV= County Championship fixture were virtually wiped out with the loss of a day’s play.

If the weather forecasters are wrong, then Andrew Gale’s side are on course for their third win in five matches this summer.

Gale put the finishing touches to his second century of the four-day campaign as the hosts were bowled out for 516 late in the afternoon session of yesterday’s second day.

West Indian Tino Best then steamed in with two wickets – the second was followed by an excited celebration when he just stopped short of kissing the White Rose on his chest – to help demolish the Essex top order.

Adil Rashid, Steve Patterson and Oliver Hannon-Dalby also added a wicket apiece as the visitors closed the day on 159-5 from 45 overs.

Gale, who scored a second innings hundred against Somerset last month, earlier recorded 135 off 216 balls before being stumped off the left-arm spin of Tim Phillips in the morning session.

Anthony McGrath was trapped lbw by David Masters without adding to his overnight 112, but Yorkshire were boosted by 62 and 61 from Jonny Bairstow and Rich Pyrah respectively.

Seam bowler Chris Wright claimed three of the last four White Rose wickets to fall, finishing with 3-97 from 25.1 overs, and Ryan ten Doeschate also took three wickets in the innings.

Patterson then trapped opener Alastair Cook lbw in the ninth over of the Essex innings before leg-spinner Rashid removed Billy Godleman in identical fashion to leave the score at 27-2 in the tenth over.

Best then forced John Maunders into an ugly swipe to point, where he was pouched by Pyrah, two balls after tea. Jaik Mickleburgh had added 33 before he was trapped lbw by Hannon-Dalby for 74-4 in the 25th over.

But then Essex put together some sort of recovery courtesy of a fifth wicket partnership of 61 in 13 overs between Mark Pettini (44) and wicketkeeper James Foster.

It was ended, however, by Best when he burst through the former’s defence before running off in exultation towards the pavilion. Surprising cries of ‘Tino, Tino’ were heard from within the member’s enclosure in front of it.

Gale said after close that Best, who finished with 2-30 from eleven overs, has made a concerted effort to model his celebrations on those of Chelsea footballer Didier Drogba, and there is no doubt that the Bajan is fast becoming a cult hero with the Yorkshire followers.

Foster will resume this morning, weather permitting, unbeaten on 35 with ten Doeschate for company on 16.

They need another 208 runs to avoid the follow-on.

LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION ONE

Yorkshire v Essex At Scarborough

Overnight: Yorkshire 313-3 (A McGrath 112 no, A W Gale 89 no).

Yorkshire First Innings

A McGrath lbw b Masters . . . . . . . .112

A W Gale st Foster b Phillips . . . . .135

J M Bairstow c Foster b Wright . . . . .62

A U Rashid c Godleman b ten Doeschate 16

R M Pyrah c ten Doeschate b Wright . .61

T L Best b Phillips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

S A Patterson b Wright . . . . . . . . . . . 5

O J Hannon-Dalby not out . . . . . . . . . 1

Extras (b8 lb9 w2 nb4 pens 0)23

Total (144.1 overs) . . . . . . .516

Fall: 1-32 2-72 3-150 4-316 5-392 6-419 7- 475 8-480 9-489

Score at 130 overs: 6-447

Bonus Pts: Yorkshire 5 Essex 2

Bowling: Masters 29-9-89-1. Martin 25- 10-84-1. Wright 25.1-4-97-3. ten Doeschate 31-1-117-3. Phillips 34-3-112- 2.

Essex First Innings Close

B A Godleman lbw b A U Rashid . . . .15

A N Cook lbw b Patterson . . . . . . . . . .7

J K Maunders c Pyrah b Best . . . . . . .6

J C Mickleburgh lbw b Hannon-Dalby 33

M L Pettini b Best . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44

J S Foster not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

R N ten Doeschate not out . . . . . . . .16

Extras (lb1 nb2 pens 0) . . . . .3

Total 5 wkts (45 overs) . . . .159

Fall: 1-23 2-27 3-32 4-74 5-135

To Bat: C J C Wright, T J Phillips, D D Masters, C S Martin.

Bonus Pts: Yorkshire 5 Essex 2

Bowling: Best 11-2-30-2. Hannon-Dalby 9-1-28-1. Patterson 13-4-37-1. A U Rashid 9-0-42-1. Pyrah 3-1-21-0.