YORKSHIRE’S unbeaten LV= County Championship record is under threat from Middlesex at Lord’s after some determined batting from the hosts turned this contest around during yesterday’s third day.

Middlesex started their second innings during Thursday’s second day 193 runs behind, and even slipped to 143-5.

But Nick Compton, who yesterday completed a season’s best 149, led an impressive fightback to leave the champions in danger of a second defeat in two years on this ground.

They advanced from 274-5 overnight to a record 573-8 from 175 overs, which means a lead of 380.

This was Middlesex’s highest score against Yorkshire, a record which has stood since they scored 527 at Huddersfield in 1887.

With Yorkshire so dominant during the first half of this match, it was hard to believe that they could not secure a tenth win of the campaign.

But now they may be forced to bat for a draw, and Andrew Gale will be desperate to ensure today’s trophy presentation is not dampened.

After 19 wickets fell in overcast conditions ideal for seam and swing bowling on day one, only nine have fallen during the last two days, including three yesterday as the hosts advanced under sunny skies and in much improved batting conditions.

Ryan Sidebottom, James Middlebrook and Adam Lyth all struck for the visitors, who were later forced to take the third new ball during their most difficult day of the campaign.

Compton was ably supported by a maiden century from seamer Toby Roland-Jones, who reached that milestone during the day’s final over and finished unbeaten on 103, 67 not out from James Harris, 63 from captain James Franklin and 47 for John Simpson.

Compton and Franklin completed a sixth-wicket stand of 150 yesterday morning before Harris and Roland-Jones shared an unbroken 146 either side of tea, also a Middlesex record for the ninth wicket in matches against Yorkshire.

Jason Gillespie admitted: "I actually thought we bowled pretty decent. We stuck to our task, but it just wasn't our day.

"Look, the wicket settled down after day one. The heavy roller, a few times on it, has changed it a little bit. But I don't want to take anything away from Middlesex. They applied themselves really well. It was a tough grind for our bowlers.

“Our game last year against Middlesex also saw both sides out quite cheaply in the first innings. The wicket tends to settle right down here. We're hopeful of that continuing and a bit of a run chase on at some point during the (final) day.”

Gillespie also revealed that, despite being made available by the ECB, Yorkshire have opted to rest England one-day trio Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid from their next game at Hampshire, starting on Monday.

They will all be in contention to face Sussex at Headingley in the final round of fixtures. No decision has yet been made on Australian Aaron Finch’s availability.

"ECB were happy for them to play, but I spoke to those lads, and I'm happy for them to rest up and play our final game against Sussex,” added Gillespie.

“Technically, those three lads are available to play against Hampshire, but we've made the call to let them have a rest.

“Going from Old Trafford down to Southampton late on Sunday and then to front up to play a four-dayer on Monday morning is a big ask.”