A STEADY stream of wickets allowed Yorkshire to keep a tight grip of their LV= County Championship clash at Worcestershire.

Having been bowled out for 430 in the morning session, Yorkshire were hoping for early wickets, though they struggled at times for consistency.

Jack Brooks did make the breakthrough as Liam Plunkett held a fine catch at fourth slip to dismiss Richard Oliver for 18 before a shower forced play to be delayed by 16 minutes.

The break did the Tykes good, however, as Steven Patterson trapped Daryl Mitchell for 14 with the first ball back after the stoppage before Tom Fell (30) edged Plunkett to Jack Leaning at second slip and Patterson forced Brett D’Oliveira (13) to edge behind.

Patterson picked up his third wicket of the session shortly before tea as Whiteley edged to Leaning for six as the Pears reached the interval on 127-5 – still 303 in arrears.

Earlier, Yorkshire lost their last five wickets for 73 runs, though Andrew Gale was able to go onto make his highest score in over two years as he made 164.

Chris Morris took three wickets to leave the Tykes at risk of missing out on maximum batting points, but Ryan Sidebottom and Gale were able to take the score past 400 before the captain was the last wicket to fall.