Yorkshire within sight of victory

Yorkshire remain well-placed to earn a County Championship double over fellow strugglers Worcestershire although they made heavy weather of their task on the third day at Scarborough.

Chasing 134 for victory after stubborn resistance from the visitors took Worcestershire to a second-innings 332, Yorkshire closed on 80-3, 53 runs behind.

Yorkshire began their run chase after tea and soon suffered a setback as Adam Lyth was run out by a direct hit at the bowler’s end from Alan Richardson after Joe Root had called for a second run.

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Root then edged Ajmal to slip where he was dropped by Mitchell with the score on 19, and Yorkshire were put under further pressure on 29 when Anthony McGrath fell lbw to Richardson, whose 11-over opening spell conceded only 15 runs.

A well-flighted ball by Ajmal lured Andrew Gale forward for him to be stumped by Scott but Root stayed calm under pressure and will begin the final day on 31, with Bairstow unbeaten on 12.

Worcestershire were in big trouble on 82 for four at the start of the day, still trailing by 117 after the hosts posted 367 to establish a 199-run first-innings advantage.

But the visitors refused to throw in the towel, with skipper Daryl Mitchell and James Cameron taking few risks against the pace of Ryan Sidebottom and Tim Bresnan.

The score eventually reached 332, with a last-wicket stand of 62 between Jack Shantry and Alan Richardson. Resistance was finally ended when Ryan Sidebottom bowled Richardson for 31 just before tea.