York’s Clifton Park is set for a grandstand finish in the Specsavers County Championship clash between Yorkshire and Warwickshire.

Both sides will head into day four confident of a victory after another enthralling day’s cricket saw the White Rose close on 178-7 from 63 overs in their second innings, leading by 183.

York CC player Jack Leaning has top-scored in Yorkshire’s second innings so far with an unbeaten 47 off 140 balls.

Overnight and morning rain delayed the start of play until midday, when Warwickshire, replying to a first-innings 259, resumed on 192-5 and fell to 254 all out almost immediately after lunch.

The Bears lost their last three wickets for only four runs in six balls either side of the break, two falling in a Jordan Thompson over, and will be frustrated at letting a position of strength slip.

But, as they have done many times this season already, Yorkshire fought back impressively in front of a crowd which just topped 1,000.

David Willey struck in the third over of the day to get Sam Hain caught at second slip with the old ball before Ben Coad struck with the new one when Craig Miles (27) drove him to mid-off, where Steve Patterson took a head high catch, leaving Warwickshire at 234-7 in the 92nd over.

Then, either side of lunch on a pitch which has slowed up but still offers help for the bowlers, the visitors’ innings was ended in double quick time.

Thompson had Jeetan Patel brilliantly caught behind one-handed by Jonny Tattersall, diving to his left off an inside-edge, immediately before lunch. He then trapped Liam Norwell lbw three balls into the afternoon, the second wicket of the 98th over (250-9).

Willey (3-71) then had Tim Ambrose caught at first slip by Tom Kohler-Cadmore in the next over.

Warwickshire new ball quick Oliver Hannon-Dalby then continued his fruitful return to face his home county.

Having taken five wickets in the first innings, he pinched the first two of the second, including the prized wicket of Gary Ballance for 18.

After getting opener Will Fraine lbw playing around one (three for one in the third over), he had in-form Ballance caught at first slip by another former Tyke Will Rhodes, leaving the score at 31-2 in the 15th - a lead of 36.

Lyth pulled Hannon-Dalby over long-leg for six and into a nearby garden and then drove Patel’s first ball for four to move into the twenties at the start of the 21st over.

But he lost Kohler-Cadmore to Matt Lamb’s first ball of the medium pace at the start of the next over, caught behind, as Yorkshire fell to 68-3.

Unfortunately, Lyth then fell himself five balls into the evening when he top-edged a pull at Miles, failing to add to his tea-time score of 37 as the score slipped to 97-4 in the 32nd.

Leaning and Tattersall, another York player, then battled hard in a 30 stand against some accurate seam bowling and Patel’s dangerous off-spin, only for the latter to fall caught behind cutting for 17 when Hannon-Dalby returned to the attack (127-5 in the 48th).

Patel then claimed the cheap wickets of Thompson bowled and Willey stumped in the 51st and 53rd overs to wrestle back the initiative at 140-5, a home lead of 145.

But Leaning and Patterson (nine) importantly batted out the final 10 overs of the day.