Yorkshire continued their progress towards a commanding first-innings total after Tim Bresnan claimed his third half-century of the summer in the crunch County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

Bresnan hit an unbeaten 63 to help Yorkshire reach 495-8 at tea on the second day, needing victory to be assured of their first title triumph since 2001.

His efforts helped continued Yorkshire’s momentum after Gary Keedy, the former Yorkshire and Lancashire left-arm spinner, claimed a five-wicket haul to delay their progress.

Keedy’s first success was to dismiss Gary Ballance, watched by national selector James Whitaker, who took 18 overs to add 17 runs to his overnight 82 before falling one short of three figures when he shuffled across his crease and was lbw for 99.

The spinner's second wicket of the morning was secured six overs later when Leaning, who had outscored Ballance during the early stages of the morning, fell for 42 when he was also lbw to a sharply-turning delivery.

Adil Rashid, another Yorkshire player who could earn England selection during the winter, hit an enterprising 42 before he clipped Luke Fletcher to mid-wicket, while Steve Patterson became Keedy’s fifth victim when he was trapped lbw padding up on 17.

Bresnan had one reprieve when he slog-swept Samit Patel only to be caught by Harry Gurney, whose momentum took him over the boundary rope.