JASON Gillespie insists Yorkshire’s task of retaining their LV= County Championship title will not be a straightforward one despite brushing aside leaders Durham by an innings and 47 runs yesterday.

The champions clinched their third successive win and second in a row by an innings before lunch during day four at Emirates Durham.

Asked to follow-on 349 runs behind, Durham began the day 105 runs behind at 244-4.

They were bowled out for 302, losing their last five wickets in 32 balls.

Jack Brooks struck three times to finish with 4-66 from 18.4 overs, including getting the last three wickets in seven balls.

Yorkshire are now 11 points clear of second-placed Durham after eight matches, one less than the North East county have played.

Given the quality within Yorkshire’s squad and the way they are playing, it is difficult to see how they can be overhauled.

Coach Gillespie, however, sees it differently. He said: "There's a lot of good sides in this division, who are playing some very good cricket.

“We have to maintain our standards, prepare as well as we can and keep putting in performances. The points table will take care of itself.

"It's not until the end of the season where we'll know who wins what. We can't control any of that. It’s all crystal-balling. What we can focus on is just the task in hand.

"I'd like to think that people are seeing that we are playing some very good cricket. We're halfway through the season and in a good position, but there's a lot of work to do.”

Yorkshire’s 23-point haul was set up by their batsmen, most notably seventh-wicket pair Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan, who both posted career best scores in a record-breaking stand of 366 on days one and two.

Then, with 557-6 declared on the board, it was over to their bowlers to take 20 wickets.

England Test hopeful Adil Rashid bowled a 30-over spell unchanged from before tea on day three to the early stages of yesterday, claiming two wickets on day three.

Ryan Sidebottom struck twice yesterday and Steve Patterson once to add to the Brooks haul.

Brooks had Ryan Pringle caught at long-leg off a top-edged hook and Jamie Harrison lbw in the space of three balls in the 89th over before getting Chris Rushworth caught behind to wrap up the win in the 91st.

"Everyone chipped in and did something," added Gillespie. "It's a good win, there's no doubt about that, and it was on the back of an amazing partnership, which you don't see too often in first-class cricket.

“Then, the way we approached our bowling, the lads did a decent shift in the dirt.

“Making a team follow-on is hard work for the bowlers, but their attitude towards that, the way they held their lines and lengths, was absolutely fantastic and backed up by all the lads in the field.

"After being put into bat in a tough situation, and our openers putting on a 50-run partnership, was a fantastic effort as well.

“We were 80-2 after 40 overs, it was a tough grind. Durham didn't let us off the hook there. That platform allowed the likes of Jonny and Brez to just go out there and play their natural game.”