Yorkshire’s best bowling display in four-day cricket for more than 30 years – followed by a magnificent century from captain Andrew Gale – has breathed new life into their championship title challenge.

It is after the Tykes dismissed Nottinghamshire for only 59 runs on day one at Trent Bridge, before Gale made 147 not out to give his side a first-innings lead of 201 against the current league leaders.

“This has been my best day as captain,“ confirmed Gale.

“The bowling display was brilliant. They barely bowled a bad ball between them, and that is the best all-round performance from an attack that I have seen since I started playing for the county.”

Few can argue with his opinion either after the Yorkshire attack demolished their opponents, to make sure Notts’ total was the lowest made against the county in this form of cricket since Warwickshire posted just 35 in 1979.

On a pitch which may yet be investigated by the ECB, it was Ajmal Shahzad and Oliver Hannon-Dalby who where the pick of the bowlers, with four wickets apiece, while Bradford-born Moin Ashraf also deserves huge credit for a wicket-laiden debut.

Making his first ever championship appearance, the 18-year-old fast bowler finished with figures of 2-11, as the home side were blown away by the Tykes.

Then came Gale’s efforts with the bat.

Despite rare failures from openers Jacques Rudolph, who made ten, and Adam Lyth, who made 19, the left-hander attacked from the off to lead his side into a hugely dominant position by the close.

Jonathan Bairstow provided him with the best support, making a plucky 36, but whilst other wickets were falling at regular intervals, Gale remained unmoved.

It meant that by the end of play he was only two runs short of equalling his previous first-class best of 149, and with a first-innings lead of more than 200 it is now Yorkshire’s match to lose with two wickets in hand.

The Tykes have already picked up five bonus points from this game, meaning they will close to within at least seven points of Nottinghamshire if they can turn their excellent current position into a victory.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire look set to be travelling to Liverpool to play next year’s Roses match against Lancashire.

The Red Rose county will play all, if not the majority, of their home Championship matches away from Old Trafford due to the square being turned by 90 degrees.

Liverpool will host half or more of the eight fixtures, while Southport and Blackpool will share the others.

“We expect that we’ll get the Yorkshire match,” said Liverpool chairman Peter McEvoy. “Lancashire have said they will do all they can to bring the Roses match here.”

Yorkshire last visited the Aigburth ground for a first-class fixture in 1958.