Yorkshire were rocked back on their heels by Durham at Riverside today and left facing the probability of suffering their first Championship defeat of the season at some stage tomorrow.

A second innings slump after Durham had built up a useful lead of 88 saw the Tykes struggle to 218 for nine, which left them only 130 in front.

Yorkshire's demise came despite a first Championship half-century of the season for Anthony McGrath and another glorious knock from Jacques Rudolph, who followed up his first- innings 111 with a sumptuous 79, which was laced with ten fours, most of them the result of flowing off-drives.

The contest was evenly balanced this morning when Durham resumed on 293 for four and still trailing by exactly 100 and it was Yorkshire who made the more promising start as Phil Mustard gloved a lifting ball from Jason Gillespie to Simon Guy for 59 and Dale Benkenstein was bowled driving at Darren Gough for 68.

But Ottis Gibson, who had already plagued Yorkshire by claiming seven for 81, now created mayhem with the bat in a fiercely-struck innings of 71 off just 74 balls with nine fours and two sixes, the first of them being a wonderful pick-up off Gough which sailed high over the boundary boards.

Gibson's onslaught raced Durham beyond 400 to bring them maximum batting bonus points and, with the tail wagging strongly, Yorkshire's bowling was made to look quite ordinary, despite plenty of bounce remaining in the pitch.

It was three-quarters of an hour into the afternoon session before Gough ended the innings on 481 by pinning Mark Davies lbw, making it the first time this season that Yorkshire had conceded a first-innings lead and the first time in 18 Championship innings since his debut that leg-spinner Adil Rashid had failed to take a wicket.

One disaster quickly followed another for Yorkshire, who found themselves on 17 for three inside five overs, the slide beginning with the third ball from Graham Onions which knocked out Craig White's leg-stump.

Joe Sayers had no chance of avoiding a treacherous delivery from Gibson and his departure was quickly followed by Younus Khan, who offered no stroke at Onions and had his off-stump sent leaping out of the ground.

Yorkshire may have been in a state of shock but it was not apparent in the batting of McGrath and Rudolph, who both launched a spectacular counter- attack which brought a spate of boundaries in an 87 stand in 22 overs.

The recovery was halted in the over before tea when McGrath flicked off-spinner Paul Wiseman off the back foot and was well caught by Kyle Coetzer at short leg for 62 from 86 balls with 11 fours.

Rudolph continued with his classical drives but Adil Rashid edged Gibson to Michael Di Venuto at second slip before he had scored, and Tim Bresnan was also out for a duck when Onions sent his middle stump flying.

At 116 for six, Yorkshire faced the threat of a three-day defeat but this was avoided by Simon Guy and Rudolph, who had put on 60 together when Guy got an inside edge against Mitch Claydon.

Inevitably, it was Gibson who returned to have Rudolph angling his first ball to Benkenstein at first slip to give the bowler his tenth wicket of the match.

Gough came and went to a slip catch off Onions without scoring but Gillespie and Deon Kruis managed to bat out the day's remaining ten overs.