Nottinghamshire v Yorkshire: Yorks need five wickets to win title

Yorkshire last won the County Championship title in 2001

Yorkshire are closing in on their first County Championship title in 13 years as they continued their dominance over Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Jack Brooks took 4-58 as Notts were dismissed for 203, despite captain Chris Read's resolute unbeaten 81.

Notts - one of two sides who can still catch Yorkshire - slumped to 9-2 following-on, including Steven Mullaney to the first ball of the innings.

But the hosts closed 180 runs behind on 149-5, with James Taylor 56 not out.

Yorkshire's 31st County Championship title - and their first since 2001 - will surely come at some stage on Friday with five wickets required and injuries meaning Nottinghamshire's tail is longer than usual.

Notts resumed day three on 58-4 in their first innings and Michael Lumb (41) was the first man to fall, lbw to Brooks.

Ryan Sidebottom celebrates the wicket of Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels (21) chased a wide, angled ball from Ryan Sidebottom (3-35) to be caught behind by Jonny Bairstow, before Read and Luke Fletcher held Yorkshire up with a stubborn 41-run partnership in 16.4 overs.

But Adil Rashid (3-52) took two wickets in an over as he enticed Fletcher (23) to hoist out to extra cover - where Brooks took an excellent catch - and Jake Ball was trapped leg before on the back foot for two.

Notts reached lunch still trailing by 393 runs on 139-8 but, from the 11th ball of the afternoon session, Gary Keedy was caught by Tim Bresnan for four after top-edging a sweep off Rashid.

Harry Gurney joined Read and the pair's 10th-wicket stand of 63 was the highest of the innings to see Notts to a batting bonus point, before Gurney (15) fell to a dubious lbw decision.

A smart piece of work by Jonny Bairstow accounted for Samit Patel

Stand-in Yorkshire captain Joe Root enforced the follow-on with Notts still 329 behind and Sidebottom's first ball accounted for Mullaney leg before for a golden duck, although the ball appeared to pitch outside the line of the leg stump.

Gary Ballance took a low catch at third slip off Brooks (2-45) to see off Lumb for nine but Notts moved to 45-2 at tea, aided by the fortune of two dropped slip catches.

Alex Hales was put down by Adam Lyth on four and Taylor was shelled by Ballance, with just one to his name.

Brooks took a neat return catch to take the wicket of Hales for 43 and Samit Patel (25) was brilliantly stumped by Bairstow after carelessly lifting his back foot in the air to give Yorkshire hope of finishing the game inside three days.

Wessels (10) played all round an excellent Sidebottom (2-24) delivery, before Taylor and Keedy saw Notts through to the close, still with a mountain to climb to even salvage a draw.

BBC Radio Nottingham's Dave Bracegirdle:

"Whilst the rub of the green certainly didn't go for Notts, they will be the first to congratulate the new champions-elect on their title success.

"After winning a crucial toss, Yorkshire have demonstrated a ruthless approach to the game and one that will ultimately bring them the coveted prize.

"A battling knock from Chris Read first time round and stubborn resistance from the unbeaten James Taylor in the second innings were the highlights for the home side, but they have it all to do on the final morning."

BBC Radio Leeds' Dave Callaghan:

"The title is waiting for Yorkshire. They dominated the third day and made Notts follow-on.

"Sidebottom, Brooks and Rashid were the destroyers-in-chief in Nottinghamshire's first innings.

"The follow-on was enforced and again Notts were soon in trouble. So, a Yorkshire victory is on the cards and a deserved title triumph."