If the first two days primarily belonged to Essex, Yorkshire turned the tables on Day 3. Led by centurion Harry Brook, Yorkshire punished innocuous bowling by the opposition throughout the day. As a result, the visitors lost just two wickets in the day's play and mustered 425/5 on the board.
Joe Root joined the overnight batter Matthew Revis in the middle, and the duo pulled Yorkshire out of a sticky situation. Revis grinded out in the middle while the ex-England Test skipper played at a brisk pace.
Revis' vigil ended three runs short of a fifty as he got run out after playing 157 balls. Root also returned to the pavilion soon after being duped by Matthew Critchley's googly on 75. His first knock of the county season came off 112 deliveries and included nine fours.
Yorkshire were not worried despite losing two quick wickets as the young Harry Brook joined Dawid Malan at the crease. Brook weaved his magic once again as he blasted Essex's bowlers all over the park.
Malan played the perfect foil as he maintained a strike rate of just under 50. Brook reached his century in style as he pulled Critchley over mid-wicket for a six. He attained the three-figure mark in just 101 balls as Essex's bowlers found no answers to the onslaught.
When the umpires called off the day's play, Malan was batting on 87 off 179 balls. The game seems to be heading towards a draw unless any miracle happens on the final day.
Brief scores:
Yorkshire 1st innings: 425/5 ( Lead by 22 runs)
Harry Brook 110*, Dawid Malan 87*, Joe Root 75;
Samuel Cook 65/2
Essex 1st innings: 403/10
Paul Walter 141, Sir Alastair Cook 107
Dom Bess 82/3, Jordan Thompson 105/3