YORKSHIRE lost Shaun Marsh, Alex Lees and Gary Ballance during the third morning against Surrey at The Oval while advancing to 290-4 from 85 overs in reply to 592.

The White Rose side must reach 443 to eliminate the possibility of following-on, thus ensuring this Specsavers County Championship match finishes in a draw tomorrow.

They started the day on 171-1 and lost Marsh for 78, stumped off Freddie van den Bergh's left-arm spinners, leaving the score at 181-2 in the 57th over – the sixth of the morning.

Ballance and Lees, who made 46, then shared a half-century stand for the third wicket before the latter batsman was the victim of a stunning one-handed catch at square leg by Ryan Patel, having swept at van den Bergh.

That left Yorkshire at 234-3 in the 71st over – and a little over six later it was 243-4 when Ballance (29) was run out, having been sent back when looking for a single into the short cover region.

Jack Leaning and Andrew Hodd have since reached 22 and 19 not out respectively.