YORKSHIRE wrapped up a thumping three-day win over Nottinghamshire at Headingley today to set up a blockbuster clash with LV= County Championship leaders Durham next week.

The reigning champions hammered last season’s closest challengers to their crown by an innings and eight runs, although James Taylor’s men look a shadow of last year’s side and are now bottom of Division One.

After Yorkshire reached 430 in their first-innings reply to 224 shortly after lunch today thanks to Andrew Gale’s 148, Jack Leaning’s 110 and Tim Bresnan’s unbeaten 52, Notts were bowled out for 198 inside 42.3 overs either side of tea.

Ryan Sidebottom claimed figures of 4-39 from 11 overs, while Tim Bresnan and James Middlebrook struck twice apiece to help secure a maximum 24-point haul.

Yorkshire are now nine points behind Durham after four wins and three draws from their seven matches ahead of Sunday’s trip to Emirates Durham.

The leaders have played eight, and a third successive win for the White Rose would see them take a significant step towards regaining their crown at the halfway point in the campaign.

"That was fantastic," said coach Jason Gillespie, who was handed a further boost today with the news that Aaron Finch will be fit to face Durham as well as Leicestershire in the T20 Blast on Friday.

"I can't speak highly enough of the lads. The way we've gone about it first and second innings with the ball, I think the lines and lengths we bowled were outstanding.

“Then, with the bat, that partnership between Galey and Jack Leaning was sensational.

"Some good batting down the order from Tim Bresnan and Steve Patterson gave our innings a little bit extra, which was great. Our energy in the field was also first rate.

"Durham are the pace-setters. They manage to win games of cricket. I think they've won six and have an incredible record. If we are going to be competitive against them, we are going to have to be at our very best.”

England’s Stuart Broad took five wickets to finish with 7-84 before hitting 50 off 42 balls in Notts’ second innings as he warmed up for next month’s Ashes series in encouraging fashion.

But the Yorkshire faithful were more concerned with the performances of Sidebottom et al.

The 37-year-old, playing only his second match of the season having torn a calf at Worcester in April, removed Brendan Taylor and Steven Mullaney with the new ball, caught in the gully and behind respectively.

He then had Samit Patel brilliantly caught at first slip by Alex Lees and bowled Luke Wood.

The Lees catch was the first of two beauties, with Gale completing a diving effort at mid-wicket after tea to help off-spinner Middlebrook get rid of Broad.

Sidebottom also took a smart steepler at mid-off to wrap up the match with 18.3 overs left in the day when Jake Ball unsuccessfully went after Middlebrook.

Gillespie added: "Ryan was very pleased to be back. We pencilled him into play against Middlesex, but he just pulled up a little bit sore at the spot where he pulled his calf, so we decided against risking him and got him another game at Scarborough.

"You saw a 37-year-old jumping out of his skin this week and he was brilliant.”