Yorkshire director of cricket Martyn Moxon paid tribute to his side’s character despite a 146-run defeat to Durham in the LV=County Championship.

A battling display on the final day at Headingley saw them fall just 11 overs short of grabbing an unlikely draw.

“I am pleased with the attitude of the players,” said Moxon, after Yorkshire were eventually bowled out for 343 after being set 490 to win.

“We took it deep into the final session and after being bowled out for only 149 in the first-innings that is a good effort.

“I have told them that you have to play well for a long time to win a game though.”

Given their dominance over the first three days of this fixture, there seemed little for Durham to worry about when play resumed on the final day with Yorkshire on 88 for two.

A brilliant 150 from Dale Benkenstein had set up the mammoth run-chase on Saturday – and when Joe Root, for 38, and captain Andrew Gale, for only five, were dismissed inside the first four overs of play it seemed a question of when, and not if, the visitors would claim their victory.

Gerard Brophy, for 20, and Bradford-born Adil Rashid, for seven, also came and went quickly, before the stubborn resistance began through Jonathan Bairstow and Rich Pyrah with Yorkshire on 158 for six.

Together they added 68 for the seventh wicket, until wicket-keeper Bairstow was ousted by Steve Borthwick for a classy 81.

It meant the 21-year-old again missed out on a maiden first-class century, despite passing 50 for the 16th time in a Yorkshire shirt, but his 118-ball innings gave the Tykes fresh hope of snatching a draw from the game, even if the target of 490 was never going to be reached.

This optimism continued to grow with Pyrah and Ryan Sidebottom at the crease, the two adding 98 runs to the total before two wickets in two balls from Liam Plunkett ultimately ended the comeback with time running out.

Sidebottom was first to go for 31, after spending two hours at the crease, before Steve Patterson was trapped lbw for nought to leave Pyrah and Bradfordian Moin Ashraf as the final line of defence.

They did last a further 11 overs but Pyrah was eventually ousted just 68 balls before the close for a first-class best of 87 to seal the Tykes’ fate.

Yorkshire’s next match begins on Wednesday against reigning champions Nottinghamshire.

The county have confirmed that England fast bowler Ajmal Shahzad will not be fit to play as he continues to recover from a hamstring injury.