Yes. It puts them ahead of Durham, who have a game in hand. But it's fine that Essex are top because they beat Durham in impressive style earlier in the season (I think). Stat of the day (or a far longer period) is that Rushworth, who had match figures of 9-for, broke the Durham record for wickets taken, with 531. The record used to belong to Graham Onions, another great bowler who hasn't troubled the England selectors often. Wood and Stokes, who do get picked for England are either unavailable or injured (or in court) for most of the time that Rushworth has been playing. And to think that Rushworth was sacked as a 19-year-old by Durham. Not surprisng that he was in tears today. Well done.
On a side issue, we didn't need too much input from South Africa this time, thanks partly to a century from Young - who is a New Zealander.