County Championship: Gloucestershire struggle after being set 498 to win by Yorkshire

Harry Brook struck nine fours and a six in his rapid 68

Adam Lyth's hundred and half-centuries from England's Joe Root and Harry Brook strengthened Yorkshire's grip on the third day of their County Championship match with Gloucestershire in Bristol.

The visitors ran up 434-6 before declaring in the final session, setting their opponents a highly unlikely 498 to win.

Lyth top-scored with 113, while Root contributed 51, Brook 68 and George Hill 58.

By the close, Gloucestershire had slumped to 97-4 with Ollie Price unbeaten on 44.

Lyth, unbeaten on 39 when play began, soon moved to a flawless fifty.

Fin Bean reached his half-century before Lyth struck three fours through the off-side against Marchant de Lange.

He survived a confident appeal for a catch behind off De Lange when on 93 before reaching a 120-ball hundred.

The opening partnership had reached 180 when Gloucestershire skipper Graeme van Buuren struck to pin Bean lbw. It was 194-1 at lunch, with Yorkshire leading by 257.

Lyth then fell to a catch off Gloucestershire skipper Van Buuren, who claimed a third wicket when first-innings centurion Shan Masood was brilliantly stumped by James Bracey.

Root progressed serenely to fifty but fell to more Bracey brilliance as the England wicketkeeper dived full-length to hold a one-handed leg-side catch off Zaman Akhter.

After a chanceless half-century, Brook was unbeaten on 51 when tea was taken at 365-4 before being caught at deep midwicket off De Lange.

Yorkshire batted on and Hill reached fifty before being caught at wide long-on off Price.

Gloucestershire's second innings started poorly when Chris Dent directed a Ben Coad ball straight to Bean at leg-slip.

Cameron Bancroft added 41 with Price before being caught behind aiming to drive Matt Milnes.

Miles Hammond raced to 35 but was caught at midwicket by Brook off Dan Moriarty and nightwatchman Josh Shaw fell lbw to Matt Fisher.

Report supplied by ECB Reporters' Network.