YORKSHIRE were frustrated by Middlesex opener Nick Gubbins as they looked to push towards a third successive Specsavers County Championship title at Lord’s.

Needing a victory to keep their hopes of defending their crown alive, the Tykes reduced the home side to 168-5 at tea, though former Leeds-Bradford University batsman Gubbins remained unbeaten on 96.

With the home side having resumed after lunch on 84-3, Jack Brooks picked up his third wicket of the day soon after the interval as Steve Eskinazi (12) was bowled via an inside edge.

At the other end Gubbins – who was dropped in the morning session by Azeem Rafiq on 22 – went through to his half-century from 94 deliveries, having hit nine fours.

He and John Simpson added 57 for the fifth wicket before Simpson (15) offered no shot to Tim Bresnan and left the umpire with a simple decision of giving him out lbw.

Bresnan should have had a second moments later as Gary Ballance put down James Franklin at third slip on what was becoming a costly day for the Tykes in the field.

Earlier, Brooks struck twice with the new ball to trap both Sam Robson and Nick Compton lbw before Dawid Malan diverted the ball onto his own stumps off the bowling of David Willey as the hosts were reduced to 57-3.