YORKSHIRE were set a target of 240 runs in 40 overs to secure their third successive County Championship title after a bizarre afternoon session at Lord's.

Middlesex's batsmen set up a declaration with the help of some gift-wrapped Yorkshire bowling, with the home side needing ten wickets of their own to snatch the title themselves.

Yorkshire began the session looking for wickets but with Middlesex pair Dawid Malan and Steve Eskinazi stood firm, before an agreement was reached between the two sides to force a result.

That led to an almost farcical period of cricket during which opening batsmen Adam Lyth and Alex Lees served up some declaration bowling in a bid to move the game on.

Lees did dismiss Malan (116) and John Simpson (31) somewhat reluctantly before the wicket of James Franklin (30) brought about the Middlesex declaration on 359-6.