YORKSHIRE remain on course for a fifth straight County Championship victory as they made a fast start to their second innings chase against Worcestershire.

Set 157 to win and with showers forecast on Wednesday afternoon, openers Alex Lees and Will Rhodes wasted little time in getting going as they raced to before the latter perished to leave the Tykes 34-1 at lunch after just seven overs.

Worcestershire resumed on 221-6 with a lead of 71 having been asked to follow-on in their second innings, but made a fast start as Ross Whiteley and Joe Leach took their partnership past 50.

Their stand was eventually broken as Liam Plunkett took a sharp catch at short-cover to remove Leach (27) off the bowling of Steven Patterson.

Whiteley, however, continued to attack, and went through to his third first-class hundred as he took a particular liking to Adil Rashid’s leg-spin.

It was only when the new ball arrived in the 10th over of the day did Yorkshire wrestle back control as Jack Brooks bowled Jack Shantry (8) with his fifth ball of the morning and Ryan Sidebottom trapped Whiteley (101) with his first.

Saeed Ajmal and Charlie Morris frustrated the home side for the second time in the match as they added 26 for the final wicket before the latter was bowled for 11 as the Pears were bowled out for 306.

Yorkshire lost Rhodes (12) shortly before the interval as he looked to hit Ajmal’s second ball back over his head but instead found Shantry running back from mid-on, but Jack Leaning joined Lees to see the hosts through to lunch still requiring 123 more to win.