CRICKET LATEST: Yorkshire closing the gap in Scarborough

Yorkshire's Phil Jaques celebrates his century in the second innings but Durham eventually prevailed in the big game at the top.

After being dismissed for 274 in reply to 573 on the stroke of lunch, Yorkshire were back batting in the afternoon session against their strongest rivals for the Championship crown.

Before a 4,750 crowd, the hosts were soon in trouble at 19-1 in the sixth over when Adam Lyth played around a ball from Chris Rushworth and was lbw for 10.

But Australian Jaques (66) and New Zealander Williamson (36) batted with plenty of determination to take the score to 123-1 at tea, 176 behind.

Jaques went on to reach his century and ended the day on 151 not out, with his New Zealand partner unbeaten on 90 - a potentially match-saving partnership of 257 in 59.2 overs.

Yorkshire will resume their innings on the final day’s play just 23 runs behind.

Yorkshire began day three on 182-3 in reply to Durham’s 573, with Williamson unbeaten on 76 and Jonny Bairstow undefeated on 42.

They lost Williamson with the total on 211, lbw to Ben Stokes for 84.

Gary Ballance was run out later in the over, going for a risky two after turning Stokes through mid-wicket, and Yorkshire fell to 219-6 when Jamie Harrison had Adil Rashid caught behind.

Bairstow fell for 82 when he was seventh out at 253, caught-and-bowled by leg-spinner Scott Borthwick off a leading edge.

Mark Wood then took two wickets in successive balls when he bowled Liam Plunkett and had Steve Patterson lbw.

The innings ended when Stokes had Ryan Sidebottom caught behind, Yorkshire losing their last seven wickets for just 63 runs.