Yorkshire paved the way for an exciting climax to the season by making a surprise declaration against Essex at Scarborough when trailing by 146 runs on the first innings.

As soon as Yorkshire had reached 104 for five and avoided the follow-on, skipper David Byas injected much-needed life into the rain-hit game by making his declaration and by the close of the third day Essex were 48 for three and leading by 194.

Essex, who resumed their first innings in the morning on 99 for three, collapsed after lunch to 250 all out, the last four wickets going down for 19 runs in six overs.

Star of the show for Yorkshire was Matthew Hoggard who warmed up for his winter tours with England by capturing career-best figures of six for 51.

He was far more accurate than his new ball partner, Steven Kirby, who went for 81 runs in 15 overs, sending down 15 no-balls and failing to claim a wicket. In one over, Graham Napier smashed him for 18 off three consecutive deliveries with a four and two sixes, one of which was hit off a no-ball.

Ashley Cowan and Justin Bishop both picked up a couple of early wickets as a number of poor strokes reduced Yorkshire to 37 for four but Anthony McGrath helped stage a recovery with a solid 29 before being trapped lbw by Napier.

The brightest of Yorkshire's batting came from Byas who middled the ball well and he had advanced to 41 when he hit the boundary which brought the declaration.

Hoggard struck a further blow with his second ball which dismissed Darren Robinson lbw and it became nine for two when Richard Clinton was caught at point off Kirby.

Former Yorkshire all-rounder Paul Grayson batted well but after making 33 he mistimed a pull at Kirby and was caught by Vic Craven but soon afterwards the last four overs of the day were lost to bad light.

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