Yorkshire closer to avoiding drop

YORKSHIRE are closing in on Division One survival in the Rothesay County Championship, but Durham are not quite sure of the size of their task heading into day four at Headingley.

- By GRAHAM HARDCASTLE, ECB REPORTERS NETWORK SUPPORTED BY ROTHESAY

Should Hampshire - 148 for nine chasing 181 to beat Surrey at the Utilita Bowl - lose, seventh-placed Yorkshire would be safe no matter the result here in this season finale. Second-bottom Durham would need a draw to be safe.

Should Hampshire win - they are eighth in the table - Yorkshire would need to draw here, which they are very well placed to do. But Durham would need a miracle victory to get out of trouble.

Yorkshire, replying to a first innings 346 all out, started a weather-affected day on 314 for five and advanced to 465 for nine in the 51 overs possible, with George Hill compiling a skilful season’s best 88.

It’s difficult to see how Durham can win, so they desperately need Surrey to win.

Bad light interrupted play on three occasions at Headingley, with the bulk of the evening lost. No play was possible beyond 3.25pm.