THREE wickets from Steven Patterson helped put Yorkshire in a strong position against Worcestershire after Andrew Gale recorded his best innings for over two years.

Seamer Patterson ended the day with figures of 3-34 as he helped reduce the Pears to 195-6 in their first innings – still 86 short of avoiding the follow-on after the Tykes made 430.

The 31-year-old is perhaps the least heralded of Yorkshire’s six-man attack, but he showed good discipline at Scarborough to end the day the pick of the bowlers.

“I like bowling here,” he said. “There’s decent carry and it’s always a good pitch to bowl on. Hopefully I can get a few more and contribute to a positive performance.

“My role is a little bit different from some. I don’t always get the option of taking the new ball and I just do what I’m told really.

“If I can bowl consistently and pick up a few wickets in the meantime then I’m happy with what I’ve done.”

Richard Oliver (18) was the first Worcestershire batsman to fall as Jack Brooks induced an edge and Liam Plunkett took a stunning catch at fourth slip high above his head.

A sharp shower then forced the players back to the pavilion for 16 minutes before Patterson trapped Daryl Mitchell (14) lbw with the very first ball following the delay.

Tom Fell, who made a century against the Tykes at New Road in the opening match of the season, again played nicely before he edged Liam Plunkett to Jack Leaning at second slip to fall for 30.

And having switched ends, Patterson continued to impress as he had Brett D’Oliveira (13) caught behind by Jonny Bairstow before Ross Whiteley (6) offered Leaning his second catch of the innings.

Twenty overs were lost in the evening session due to rain and bad light, and the Yorkshire bowlers were further frustrated as Joe Clarke and Ben Cox added 56 for the sixth wicket.

Clarke went through to his half-century from his 75th delivery, but Cox (15) could not stay with him through to stumps as he chipped a catch to Rashid at mid-wicket off Brooks.

Joe Leach and Clarke did survive to the close, however, with the latter unbeaten on a career-best 76.

Yorkshire had earlier resumed the second day on 357-5, but found runs hard to come by as they looked to secure maximum batting points.

Tim Bresnan edged Joe Leach to Ross Whiteley at first slip to fall for 28 before Charlie Morris took three wickets for only one run in the space of 13 deliveries as the Tykes struggled to reach 400.

It was left to number 11 Ryan Sidebottom to join Gale as they eventually brought up the fifth and final bonus point before Gale went through to his own 150 with a flick to the fine-leg boundary.

The captain was eventually the final man to fall for 164 as he picked out Mitchell trying to scoop Jack Shantry to the third-man as he produced his best innings since making 272 at North Marine Road in June 2013.