Belligerent Bairstow holds up champions' chase for big victory

JONNY Bairstow made a belligerent 64 not out and James Wharton an excellent 67 but Yorkshire are still facing defeat against Surrey at the Kia Oval.

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Surrey took three wickets late on day three to underline their complete dominance in a Rothesay County Championship match they will expect to bring them a second win of the Division One season.

The champions were held up by Bairstow and Wharton's fourth wicket stand of 84 but then Matt Fisher bowled Wharton and Tom Lawes removed George Hill and nightwatchman Jordan Buckingham in successive balls to leave Yorkshire 185 for six at stumps still 72 runs adrift.

Lawes had Hill caught at first slip and then pinned Buckingham leg-before, leaving Matt Revis to keep Bairstow - who has hit two sixes and eight fours in his 66-ball effort so far - company until the close.

Nathan Smith and Jordan Clark had earlier Yorkshire up against it in their second innings at 31 for two, although Wharton and Jonny Tattersall then dug in either side of tea and put on 52 for the third wicket.

Finlay Bean was the first Yorkshire wicket to fall, for seven, thin-edging a Smith outswinger through to tumbling wicketkeeper Ben Foakes, and five overs later Adam Lyth was also gone, for 16.