Yorkshire are heading into a decisive day in their bid to win promotion from Division Two of the LV= County Championship.

Although nothing will be decided by six o’clock tomorrow night, the final outcome of the Tykes’ match against leaders Derbyshire may well go a long way to determining where the county will be playing their cricket next season.

Ahead of day four, the Falcons had reached 233-8 in their first innings, still 38 runs short of the follow-on target.

If they cannot reach it, then the door will be open for Yorkshire to pick up their first win in the four-day game since May.

“It’s a massive first session for us,” admitted captain Andrew Gale.

“Since the start of the game we’ve probably won the important periods in the match but it counts for nothing if we don’t enforce the follow on. That’s the only way I can see us winning.”

The very fact that Yorkshire still have a chance of victory is testament to their battling qualities.

After posting 420 in their first innings, a superb performance from Ryan Sidebottom led the way with the ball today.

He took three wickets for the loss of only nine runs in a brilliant opening seven-over spell, before a dogged fightback from Derbyshire appeared to have put the game on course for a draw.

Wes Durston was central to it with a fluent 84, with Ross Whiteley and former Yorkshire player David Wainwright continuing the visitors’ diligent effort either side of a 24-over rain delay.

Together, they helped the visitors reach 174-5, before Whiteley was ousted by Steve Patterson for 35 as a gripping day’s play took another dramatic twist.

On-loan Andrew Hodd took the catch to make it four on his debut for the county, with further progress to follow in the fading light.

By the close, two more wickets had been taken thanks to spinners Azeem Rafiq and Bradfordian Adil Rashid.

Tom Poynton (25) and Tony Palladino (0) were the men to go to leave Yorkshire dreaming of victory.

Wainwright, who was dropped by Adam Lyth late on, may well be the first hurdle to overcome in the morning.

The spin bowling all-rounder will resume on 45 not out, with Tim Groenewald yet to score.