County Championship: Gale & Leaning tons boost Yorkshire

Andrew Gale's century was his 18th in first-class cricket

Captain Andrew Gale and Jack Leaning hit unbeaten centuries to increase Yorkshire's control of their game against Notts at Headingley.

Gale made 144 not out and Leaning 107 in an unbroken partnership of 251.

Notts had earlier eked out a batting bonus point by reaching 224 all out, with paceman Jack Brooks taking 4-56.

Adam Lyth and Gary Ballance both failed as Yorkshire slumped to 51-3, with Stuart Broad claiming two wickets, but they were 302-3 at stumps, 78 ahead.

Resuming on 169-8, Notts were grateful to Luke Wood (38) and Ben Hilfenhaus (28 not out) for adding 65 before Brooks ended Notts' innings.

Armed with the new ball, Broad (2-55) then had England team-mate Lyth lbw third ball and later bowled Alex Lees after Ballance had been caught at leg gully off Hilfenhaus for 14.

Gale and Leaning met the mini-crisis head on, looking equally at home against seam and spin, as they surpassed Yorkshire's previous fourth-wicket record stand against Notts of 210, set by Ted Lester and Willie Watson at Trent Bridge in 1952.

Yorkshire captain Gale reached 7,000 first-class runs with a boundary off Wood before bringing up his hundred off 153 balls, and 21-year-old Leaning later followed him to three figures with a six off Samit Patel - his third hundred of a highly impressive season so far.

Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale:

"I felt in good touch from the word go and I have felt good for the last month without making a good score.

"Yesterday was a typical Headingley day, but when the sun comes out it makes it a lot easier, although it is still a pitch which keeps you honest.

"Jack Leaning is so calm for a 21-year-old and he is the whole package now. He was up against two international bowlers today and he was in no trouble at all.

"I think Stuart Broad bowled very well and will do well this summer - not tomorrow but in the Ashes!"

Nottinghamshire director of cricket Mick Newell told BBC Radio Nottingham:

"I don't think we bowled too badly today but just couldn't find a way to break that excellent partnership between Gale and Leaning.

"Credit to Stuart Broad, who always gives his all when he comes back to play for us and he bowled really well.

"We have been unlucky with the conditions but we cannot get down about it. We need to come back in the morning and look to bowl Yorkshire out for a score of under 400."