Yorkshire have won their LV=County Championship match with Durham by four wickets. It means the Tykes have picked up 21 points from the contest in the north-east to close the gap on Nottinghamshire at the top of the table to only six points.

Chasing just 54 on the final morning for victory, captain Andrew Gale was the star of the show to lead his team home in just under 12 overs.

Steven Harmison did pick up the wickets of Steve Patterson, for three, and Gerard Brophy, for nought, but Gale made sure there would be no further collapse. He finished unbeaten on 70 – with Bradford-born Adil Rashid hitting the winning run to close on 15 not out.

Next up for Yorkshire is Middlesex in the CB40 on Sunday.

DAY THREE REPORT

A brilliant century from Jacques Rudolph has put Yorkshire on the verge of an important LV=County Championship win against Durham.

Set 299 to win, after Oliver Hannon-Dalby and Steve Patterson picked up 4 wickets apiece, the South African made exactly 100 to help the Tykes close on 245-4. It means Andrew Gale’s side need only 54 more runs to wrap up a 21 point victory over the reigning champions.

Rudolph was the star of the show, but Adam Lyth also deserves great credit for his part in a 113-run partnership with his fellow opener.

On a pitch which saw 17 wickets fall on the first day, their aggressive tactics made sure a stiff looking total now looks to be a comfortable enough victory target.

When Lyth was eventually ousted, for 48, Rudolph was then ably assisted by Anthony McGrath. The two of them added 68 for the second-wicket, until the South African was eventually dismissed by Mitchell Claydon just 9 balls after reaching his ton.

McGrath, for 29, and Jonathan Bairstow, for 13, were also ousted late on before an attractive cameo from captain Gale means victory is still there for the taking for Yorkshire. He is on 36 not out, with nightwatchman Steve Patterson unbeaten on 3.

It means the skipper is in the perfect position to guide his side to victory on the final day in the north east.

DAY TWO REPORT

A superb century from Anthony McGrath means that Yorkshire are in a good position at the mid-way point of their LV=County Championship match with Durham.

The former captain made 124 not out in the north east, before the reigning champions closed on 207-6 to set up an enthralling looking third day. It means their second-innings lead is only 165 runs, and much of that is due to McGrath’s heroics.

Resuming on 28 overnight, and with the Tykes in trouble on 125-7, he plundered 18 boundaries in the first two sessions to help Yorkshire post 255 from their first innings. It not only made sure Andrew Gale's men had a lead of 42 runs, but also made sure the Tykes picked up 2 batting bonus points.

Then an accurate all-round bowling display continued to put Yorkshire in control. Oliver Hannon-Dalby was the star of the show, with three wickets, whilst Steve Patterson took two wickets and Ajmal Shahzad also took one.

It made sure Durham’s lead is only a small one going in to day three, although Mark Stoneman deserves credit for his 78.

The need for victory at the Riverside is important for Yorkshire – league leaders Nottinghamshire picked up 22 points after beating Warwickshire inside 2 days.

DAY ONE REPORT

Five wickets from Ajmal Shahzad has helped Yorkshire stay in contention in their LV=County Championship match with Durham. His efforts made sure the Tykes bowled the reigning champions out for 213 in the north east, before a good fightback from the home side saw the White Rose close on 125-7.

It means the game is delicately poised after a dramatic opening day which saw 17 wickets fall.

The action started early, with Steve Patterson removing Mark Stoneman in just the third over of the day for 1. That set the scene at the Emirates Durham International Cricket Ground and, led by Shahzad, the Tykes were soon celebrating once more.

With just his fourth and sixth balls of the day the England fast bowler removed Gordan Muchall and Dale Benkenstein to leave Durham on 32-3. Tim Bresnan then ousted Ian Blackwell, for only 6, before Shahzad returned to trap Ben Stokes lbw for a duck.

However, a 115-run partnership from Michael Di Venuto and Phil Mustard then hauled Durham back into the game. By the time Mustard was gone for 53, to give Rich Pyrah the first of two wickets, the score had moved on to 169 for 6 and suddenly the hosts were competitive.

Shahzad was soon back though – wrapping up his first career five-wicket haul to help finish off the tail with Pyrah.

It meant Durham were all out for 213, but unfortunately the home side’s attack then made significant inroads into the Yorkshire batting line up.

Only Tim Bresnan, who made 25, and Anthony McGrath, who passed 1000 championship runs to reach the close unbeaten on 28, passed 18 to mean the Tykes face a real battle to get close to the hosts first-innings total.

At the close Pyrah, who is on 4, is the man at the crease with McGrath and Yorkshire are 125 for 7 – still 88 runs behind.