A Gale blew its way through North Marine Road yesterday and the 4,000 fans watching Yorkshire's match against Warwickshire loved every minute of it.

Andrew Gale, the 22-year-old left-hander, hammered out his maiden century to tighten the Tykes' grip on the Championship game.

Gale powered his way to 149 as he guided Yorkshire to maximum batting bonus points for the first time this season and a massive final score of 536 to give them a first innings lead of 335.

In the process, he helped Gerard Brophy pile up 162 for the seventh wicket, a county record against Warwickshire, beating the 136 by George Hirst and Schofield Haigh in Birmingham 102 years' ago.

Gale has already blasted over 1,000 runs last season for Cleckheaton in the Bradford League and is this year churning out big scores for Driffield in the Yorkshire League.

But until yesterday, Gale had struggled to make his mark in Yorkshire's first team since his debut in 2004.

In his six previous first class matches he had batted 11 times and managed only 94 runs.

Gale strode to the crease at 133-3 after Joe Sayers had fallen for 72 with 14 boundaries and nightwatchman Jason Gillespie had departed for 25.

Gale was happy to settle in quietly, letting the stylish Michael Lumb play the classier shots in a 117-stand in 32 overs for the fifth wicket before Lumb was bowled by left-arm spinner Paul Harris for 57 from 101 balls with ten boundaries.

Almost immediately afterwards, Gale, having just completed his half-century, survived an easy chance when he drove Harris straight to Mark Wagh at mid-on who put down a sitter.

Adil Rashid marked his debut with a couple of boundaries and showed a plucky spirit but it was after he had fallen to a bat-pad catch off the wonderfully patient Harris that Gale took charge, completely dominating his stand with Brophy, who allowed his partner to take centre stage.

Tea, like lunch, was taken early because of light rain, and on the resumption Gale swept his way through the 90s, an exquisite cover drive off Dougie Brown taking him to his century off 158 balls with 18 fours, his bat held high in joyous response to a standing ovation.

Harris returned for another stint and Gale smacked him over mid-wicket for six but in trying to sweep the spinner to his 150 he was bowled after receiving 208 balls and smacking 23 fours before his big hit.

There was still plenty left in the Yorkshire innings and Brophy completed his first half century since joining the county at the start of the season. Last man, Deon Kruis, gave him late support but in trying to hit the final ball of the day from Harris for four, Brophy was bowled for 97 from 146 deliveries with 11 fours and a six, Harris deservedly returning figures of 5-134 from 44 overs.