CLYDESDALE BANK 40, Chelmsford:
Yorkshire 233-0 beat Essex 232-9 by 10 wickets (Yorks 2pts)
Match scorecard

Andrew Gale has already scored a ton in the Championship this season

Andrew Gale and Jacques Rudolph both scored unbeaten centuries as Yorkshire thrashed Essex by 10 wickets in their Clydesdale Bank 40 clash at Chelmsford.

Responding to a total of 232-9, in which Grant Flower hit an unbeaten 113, the visitors inflicted Essex's heaviest defeat in a limited-overs match.

In recording his first ton in one-day cricket, skipper Gale hit 12 fours and three sixes in his 125 off 115 balls

Rudolph contributed 101 from 102 balls with the help of 13 boundaries.

Their partnership represented their highest for any wicket in one-day league cricket.

The nearest Essex came to breaking it was when the total had reached 64.

Gale, 30 at the time, thrashed hard to cover point where Tim Phillips put down a difficult chance low down.

But, from then onwards, the Yorkshire pair progressed with embarrassing ease while plundering runs from seven bowlers.

Yorkshire's other star was West Indies paceman Tino Best who earlier picked up 4-46 in his eight overs.

Flower's century was his first limited-overs ton in English domestic cricket, the Zimbabwean showing he is still a force to be reckoned with even though he is in his 40th year.

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