Ryan Sidebottom struck an early blow for Yorkshire by bowling Richard Stemp for a duck at Scarborough today.

Yesterday, Yorkshire appeared to be sinking fast but they were flung a lifeline by Richard Blakey and Andy Gray, who featured in a record ninth-wicket stand against Leicestershire.

They put on an unbroken 149 together before Yorkshire declared on 347 for eight which left their opponents to make 345 for victory off a minimum of 100 overs.

In four overs to the close, Leicestershire made six for one and Yorkshire were today pushing hard to extend their winning sequence to three matches as they try to haul themselves out of the relegation zone.

The ever improving batting skills of Gray - who is now a paler shade of White at the crease - brought him a career-best 74 not out while Blakey's solid unbeaten 63 was his sixth half-century of the summer.

Gray stroked 12 boundaries off the 109 balls which he faced and Blakey hit eight fours and a six from 127 deliveries.

Their stand overhauled the previous best for the ninth wicket against Leicestershire of 80 between H Rudston and H Myers in 1904 and was the highest against any county since Hedley Verity and Frank Smailes put on 167 against Somerset at Bath in 1936.

The alliance between Blakey and Gray compensated for some dismal batting in the morning when Vince Wells added three wickets to the two he had taken the previous day to give him figures of five for 39 and leave Yorkshire in grave danger of defeat at 198 for eight.

Wells did not return to the attack because he was weary after neck and groin injuries had severely limited his bowling over the last six weeks or so.

Yorkshire resumed on 137 for three and suffered a setback off the second ball from Javagal Srinath which Craig White edged to Neil Burns and the century-maker of the first innings departed for 36.

Nightwatchman Ryan Sidebottom sensibly helped Michael Lumb add 32 before Phil DeFreitas came on and straight away had Sidebottom taken at second slip by Darren Maddy.

Then Wells created havoc with three wickets for eight runs in 25 balls as Yorkshire failed to bat with sufficient care. Lumb drove loosely without using his feet, Gary Fellows dragged into his stumps and Richard Dawson pushed lazily and was caught behind. Blakey began the revival by cutting and driving boundaries off Wells and it was after lunch that Gray grew in confidence and even went on to outscore his captain who had an escape on 29 when Darren Stevens put down a sharp chance at second slip off Maddy.