YORKSHIRE'S battle to avoid relegation in the Specsavers County Championship has reached a critical stage at Headingley.

They need 34 more runs to beat Warwickshire with three wickets in hand as they chase a target of 175 on day four.

Matt Fisher and Steve Patterson have so far shared an unbroken 45 for the eighth wicket to recover from 96-7, reaching lunch on 141-7 with Fisher on 10 and Patterson 23.

The hosts began the day on 56-3 before Jeetan Patel claimed the opening three wickets to fall to record his first five-wicket haul of 2017.

He trapped Gary Ballance lbw for 21, had Jack Leaning (16) caught at leg slip and Tim Bresnan caught at deep mid-wicket for a duck.

Ryan Sidebottom had Andrew Hodd caught at slip in the 41st over, with 79 still needed for victory and only three wickets left.

But Fisher and Patterson have since advanced in entertaining fashion.

Win this game and Yorkshire will take a giant step to safety. Lose it and they could find themselves in the relegation zone ahead of next week's closing trip to face champions Essex at Chelmsford.