YORKSHIRE are charging over the summer’s finishing line, according to Andrew Gale.

The White Rose coach says his side, unbeaten in their last three games, are currently playing their best cricket of 2018 in the Specsavers County Championship.

A come from behind win over Lancashire at Emerald Headingley was sandwiched in between away and home draws against Nottinghamshire and Hampshire.

The latter finished today as the fourth day was washed out by rain, with umpires Michael Gough and Graham Lloyd calling things off at 12pm.

It means Yorkshire tackle bottom side Worcestershire at New Road during next week’s final round needing a maximum of two points to avoid relegation.

That is assuming Lancashire get 24 points in beating Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl.

"We certainly won't be going down to Worcester thinking about the two points we need,” said Gale, whose side led Hampshire by 314 at 287-5 in their second innings.

“For me, it's about going there to win.

“Worcester are a good side, but they're there for the taking, and I want to finish the season strongly.

"I thought it was a good solid week.

“We spoke before the game about how we're probably playing our best cricket of the season towards the back end, and we've got some confidence back.

“We had a good solid draw at Trent Bridge and then beat Lancashire in a close battle.

"We came into this game with a lot of confidence, and I want us to jump on the back of that.

"Before the rain, we were in a commanding position.

"I'm really pleased that we've backed up some good work last week, and that's the first time this season we've managed to do that.

“I’d expect us to go to Worcester with the confidence we’ve had this week, perform well, get the two points we need and go on to win the game.”

After being bowled out for 184 in their first innings, Yorkshire made all the running against a Hampshire outfit who are now one place above them and fourth in Division One.

They claimed a first-innings lead of 27 as Tim Bresnan took a career best 5-28 before Adam Lyth underpinned the second innings with an unbeaten 134. Both sides finished with eight points.

Gale said: “It wasn’t ideal to be bowled out for 180, but this time of year, with the toss as it is, you’re just trying to get as close to 250 as you can do.

“We knew we had to bowl well, and we did.

“From then on, we drove the game forwards.”

Asked why he felt Yorkshire had improved since being beaten by Somerset at Headingley last month, Gale said: “I think we’ve turned a corner because guys have signed contracts and things seem a lot more settled.

“We’ve got a more settled dressing room than we had, and we’ve been looking forwards rather than backwards.

“I feel like people are more comfortable in their own skin.

“The contracts definitely had an influence.

“Someone like Tim Bresnan has had that hanging over him all season, and I know he’s struggled with it.

“Jack Brooks, you can see the way he’s performed since he signed for Somerset. It’s been a weight off his shoulders.”

On the future contracts of England duo Adil Rashid and Jonny Bairstow, Gale added: “Rash is pretty close to signing so Martyn (Moxon) tells me. I think Jonny wants a bit of time, so we’ll see what happens there.”