JACK Leaning admitted it was good to get "the monkey off his back" after a maiden County Championship century helped earn Yorkshire the chance of a remarkable victory in their LV= Division One match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Leaning's 198-ball 116, which included 11 fours and a six, was eventually halted by Chris Read's stumping off Samit Patel.

But that was not before he had helped Andrew Gale's men reply to Nottinghamshire's 428 with a first-innings total of 441, with Rich Pyrah adding a useful 37 and Tim Bresnan hitting 34 off 49 balls.

Nottinghamshire were then reduced to 74-3 in their second innings at the close of day three – a precarious lead of only 61.

The first two wickets were taken by Matthew Fisher, who trapped Steven Mullaney lbw for 20, and Bresnan, who had first innings double-centurion Alex Hales caught by wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd for just two.

That scalp spared the blushes of Leaning, who had dropped Hales off Fisher when the Notts number three batsman was on nought.

There was further joy for Yorkshire when Jack Brooks bowled Brendan Taylor for 32, leaving James Taylor and Will Gidman to see their side to the close.

It was still Leaning's day, though, and his broad smile after play concluded proclaimed the fact.

"It was nice to get the monkey off my back after making 99 at Arundel and this is a nice place to play cricket," he said.

"I had a good pre-season when I felt in good nick and I was pleased to take that form into this match.

"I just took it one ball at a time and Rich Pyrah and I managed to get into some good rhythm.

"All I can do is take my opportunities and try and do enough to hold my place when our England players return from the West Indies."