PLAYING like true champions at the end of a game in which they had been properly tested, Yorkshire beat Middlesex by four wickets ten balls into the extra half-hour on the third evening of their LV= Division One game at Headingley.

The win takes Yorkshire into second place in the table, equal on points with James Franklin’s side and behind only Durham, who they will play twice over the next couple of months.

Andrew Gale’s team also have a match in hand on the leaders, so it was no surprise that Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie was in buoyant mood after his team had chased down 213 to inflict Middlesex's first Championship defeat of the summer.

“The pleasing thing for me is that whenever this game has been tough we have kept being positive throughout,” said Gillespie. “I was really pleased with our attitude towards scoring the runs on a pitch that was a little bit up and down and played a few tricks.”

No one who watched what turned out to be the final day of this match would dispute Gillespie’s right to be delighted at the end of a game which was a credit to both teams and to the County Championship.

In the morning session, Middlesex had resumed on 127-4 with a lead of 110 and off-spinner Adam Lyth gave Yorkshire excellent start to the day when he had Dawid Malan caught at slip by Tim Bresnan for 35

But the morning also saw useful stands that took Middlesex to 229 all out at lunch. Indeed, it needed Will Rhodes, with a career-best 3-42, to polish off the visitors’ innings and leave Yorkshire with a testing target.

Middlesex skipper James Franklin hit 55 not out, made off 126 balls, while for Yorkshire, Tim Bresnan took 2-51, as did Jack Brooks. Steve Patterson finished with 2-33 off 23 excellent overs.

By tea, though, it seemed that Yorkshire’s batsmen were in charge of things as they reached 91-1, with Lyth on 48 not out and Gary Ballance unbeaten on 22.

However, Yorkshire’s pursuit suffered a very substantial stumble in the 11 overs after the resumption as they lost three wickets in adding 34 runs.

First Ballance was stumped by John Simpson off Ollie Rayner for 29 when he was beaten in the flight by the off-spinner. The same bowler had Lyth caught behind for a 131-ball 67 and, next over, Jonny Bairstow was caught at second slip by Rayner off Toby Roland Jones without scoring.

Jack Leaning then batted confidently, hitting three fours and a six in a 43-ball 25 before he gloved a catch to Rayner off Harris.

Just over four overs later Andrew Gale chopped a ball from Tim Murtagh on to his stumps when he had made 37 and Yorkshire were 189-6.

However, Glenn Maxwell and Will Rhodes took Yorkshire to their victory target, Maxwell making 23 not out and Rhodes ending unbeaten on ten. Maxwell finished the game by hitting a straight six off Harris.