Yorkshire on course for victory over Gloucestershire at Scarborough (From York Press)

Yorkshire on course for victory over Gloucestershire at Scarborough

3:49pm Friday 31st August 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

YORKSHIRE are on course to chase down 314 to beat Gloucestershire at Scarborough, despite losing two wickets during the final afternoon of the LV= County Championship game.

Joe Root and captain Andrew Gale both departed to Anthony Ireland and Jack Taylor to leave the score at 159-3 in the 41st over. It has since been advanced to 183-3 from 52 overs at tea.

Phil Jaques has anchored the innings with an unbeaten 67 - his 50 came off 70 balls - and Gary Ballance is with him on five. The pair both scored centuries in the pursuit of 400 during the final day of the reverse fixture at Bristol in May, also a contrived finish.

Root was caught at mid-wicket by Dan Housego off Ireland for 43 in the 30th before Gale was caught at first slip by Hamish Marshall off Taylor’s off-spin in the 41st.

Yorkshire require another 131 from a minimum of 32 overs in the final session.

A win would take Yorkshire six points clear of Hampshire in third place with two matches left in the race for promotion from division two.