YORKSHIRE captain Andrew Gale proved his ECB anger management course has worked by accepting an incorrect decision to give him out on 96 with the minimum of fuss on the third day against Warwickshire at Headingley.

The champions find themselves under pressure ahead of day four of this LV= County Championship match, with Warwickshire leading by 240 runs at 108-2 in their second innings.

But Gale’s dismissal four short of an 18th first-class century proved to be a key incident in the day after helping his side avoid the follow-on target of 286 after lunch as they replied to 435.

Gale hit an above waist high full toss from six-wicket quick Boyd Rankin to cover, and before the catch had been taken he queried the legality of the decision with square-leg umpire Jeremy Lloyds by shrugging his shoulders.

When Lloyds and Steve Garratt upheld the decision, Gale looked shattered but walked off for tea with Yorkshire bowled out for 303.

The left-hander only returned to action last week after serving a four-match ECB improper conduct ban following an incident with Lancashire’s Ashwell Prince last August.

Part of the ban involved him taking an anger management course following previous indiscretions.

“I kept my mouth shut, took the decision and walked off. I’ll take it on the chin,” he said having hit ten fours in his 182-ball innings.

“Controversy seems to follow me around. I was disappointed with it, but umpires make mistakes. I was gutted to have worked so hard throughout the day and not get three figures.”

It has yet to be confirmed whether the matter will go further, although Gale and ECB cricket liaison officer Stuart Cummings, the former rugby league referee, do not expect any issues to arise.

Gale shared in key partnerships of 97 for the fourth wicket with York's Jack Leaning (41), a stand completed in the morning, and 54 for the ninth wicket with Jack Brooks, whose 21 was crucial.

They had been brought together at 249-8 to pass the follow-on target after Yorkshire lost five wickets for 64 in 24 overs either side of lunch to slip from 185-3.

“We’re on the back foot a bit. They’re going to look to set us a total, and we’re going to have to bat well to either save the game or chase them down,” added Gale.

“If I were in their position, it would be a case of what target to leave because they’ve got to have enough time to bowl us out, but also there’s not that many demons in the pitch. It’s a tough one.

“Had we been batting again, there’s only one winner in the game. We’ve given ourselves a fighting chance.”

Seven overs were lost to bad light at the end of the day, giving Yorkshire’s cause a small helping hand.