County Championship 2022 | Sir Alastair Cook turns back the clock with a record 72nd first-class century

Sir Alastair Cook hogged the limelight again as he notched up his second century of the game for Essex. Though this round 5 match of the County Championship Division I ended in a draw, the former England captain put on a show for the home crowd.

Yorkshire resumed the day’s proceedings on 425/5, with centurion Harry Brook and Dawid Malan at the crease. However, Malan could not add anything to his overnight score and fell to Shane Snater on 87.

Essex bowled with precision to bundle out Yorkshire on 465, restricting the lead to 62 runs. Brook got dismissed on 123 as Samuel Cook ended a magnificent knock. The season’s current top run-getter hammered eleven fours and two sixes during his stay in the middle.

Samuel Cook and Shane Snater were the pick of the bowlers, claiming three wickets each. Simon Harmer accounted for two of Yorkshire’s batters while Matthew Critchley had sent back Joe Root.

Essex’s second instalment did not see any dismissals. Openers Sir Alastair and Nick Browne batted with utmost ease as the pitch depicted no demons. Cook’s class, coupled with some toothless bowling from Yorkshire, took Essex’s score to 167/0 in 59.4 overs.

The players shook hands as soon as Browne reached his half-century off 178 balls. Cook remained unbeaten on the other end with 102 to his name, which included eleven fours.

Brief scores: 

Essex 1st innings:  403/10

Paul Walter 141, Sir Alastair Cook 107

Dom Bess 82/3, Jordan Thompson 105/3

Yorkshire 1st innings:  465/10 

Harry Brook 123, Dawid Malan 87, Joe Root 75;

Samuel Cook 78/3, Shane Snater 62/3

Essex 2nd innings: 167/0

Alastair Cook 102*, Nick Browne 50*

Match Drawn