Yorkshire's ambitions of winning their first LV= County Championship title since 2001 are still intact after day two of their final fixture against Kent.

And that is thanks to another of their home-grown youngsters excelling at Headingley, which has left their match beautifully poised at the mid-way point.

By taking three late wickets, 18-year-old Bradford-born Moin Ashraf has given Yorkshire renewed hope that this could be their year.

It has left Kent on 216-6 in their first-innings, still 45 runs behind the Tykes' total of 261.

Although that is far from a definite advantage at this stage, the very fact that a positive result is likely at Headingley will leave Andrew Gale's side in confident mood ahead of the final two days of the season.

The Tykes' impressive performance against Kent began with the bat.

After the entire morning session had been washed out because of the weather, Ashraf and Steve Patterson began the rebuilding process.

Together, after Jonathan Bairstow (64) and Oliver Hannon-Dalby (1) had been ousted quickly, they put on 41 for the final wicket to frustrate the Kent bowlers.

Patterson did most of the damage to finish on a brilliant 39 not out, but Ashraf's knock of ten, from 37 balls, was an innings of intelligence and doggedness which belied his tender years.

Their efforts helped Yorkshire pick up a second batting bonus point before an excellent bowling display continued their success in a tight game.

Ashraf was central to it again, with final figures of 3-16, while Ajmal Shahzad, Bradfordian Adil Rashid and Hannon-Dalby also shared a wicket apiece.

It helped make sure that Kent could not gain the advantage at Headingley, despite being 44-0 and 210-5, and Ashraf's final wicket of Martin van Jaarsveld could be key.

The South African had made an untroubled 89 before he fell with only ten balls of the day left, and if Yorkshire can now finish off the Kent tail quickly on the penultimate day then they will really fancy their chances of winning this match.

If they can do that, then it is all eyes on rivals Somerset and Nottinghamshire.