DOUBLE centurion Adam Lyth has played a significant part with the bat in Yorkshire’s dominance of their Roses clash with Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford, but he expects to have to contribute with the ball as well as they push for victory during today’s final day.

Yorkshire are chasing a seventh LV= County Championship win, one which could take them 26 points clear at the top with two to play if Nottinghamshire slip up in their match at Durham.

But there is still work to do because Lancashire are 144-2 from 46 overs in their second innings having reduced an overall deficit of 332 to 188.

“We’re in a great position,” said opener Lyth, who saw Adil Rashid make an unbeaten century before striking with the ball late in the day.

“There’s not much help for seam bowling, but there’s quite a bit for spinners. Hopefully Rash can keep bowling how he’s bowling and get four, five or six wickets, and maybe I can pick up a couple at the other end.”

This was a stellar day for Lyth even though he fell one short of equalling the highest individual score in this fixture, Darren Lehmann’s 252 at Headingley in 2001. Ironically, that was the year when Yorkshire last won the Championship.

Lyth hit 251 in 446 balls as Yorkshire replied to a first-innings 278 with 610-6 declared from 164 overs, losing only one wicket in the first half of the day as Rashid also added an unbeaten 159 off 238.

The pair’s sixth-wicket partnership of 296 inside 72 overs was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to statistics and records.

It was Yorkshire’s highest ever sixth-wicket alliance in all first-class cricket, while their total was the highest by either side in Roses cricket.

Lyth also became Yorkshire’s fourth double centurion in the history of this fixture, joining Lehmann, Len Hutton and Morris Leyland.

Unfortunately for him, Lehmann’s record remains intact after the 26-year-old chipped Stephen Parry’s left-arm spin to mid-on.

“One short,” he said ruefully. “I would have loved to have had that record. The way I played, I probably deserved it. But, at the end of the day, I got out and would have taken 251. I’m very pleased.

“I should have belted it over the top, but I just wanted to get it on the floor for one because I knew I was on for the record. I’ll know for next time when I’m on 251 to belt it over the top.”

Usman Khawaja later led Lancashire’s response with 69 not out during a feisty end to the day which saw Andrew Gale exchange words with Ashwell Prince because he was frustrated with the South African for trying to slow things down so Yorkshire would not bowl any more than the allotted 45 overs.

They ended up getting 46 in, and Gale and Prince were jabbing bats and fingers at other from distance as the players walked off. It is understood that, with the involvement of the umpires, the matter was resolved after close.

Earlier, Ryan Sidebottom bowled Luis Reece in the seventh over of Lancashire’s innings before Rashid had Paul Horton caught and bowled for 49, ending an 81-run second-wicket stand with Khawaja.