THERE was an air of inevitability about proceedings at Headingley as Durham toiled in vain while Alex Lees and Adam Lyth took Yorkshire's second innings total to 151 without loss at tea, a lead of 346.

Yorkshire are on course to get the lead up well above 400 in time to have an hour's bowling this evening.

Lyth offered a sharp return chance to Chris Rushworth on ten, otherwise the left-handed openers accumulated steadily with few alarms.

With 51 on the board after 12 overs Durham turned to spin at both ends and Lees had a slice of luck on 29 when a top-edged sweep off Ryan Pringle fell into space at square leg.

Lees pulled the off-spinner for six in his next over then had a swing at the next ball and missed.

Pringle turned a couple past the bat, but Lees proved adept at dabbing him behind square on the off side on his way to a 66-ball half-century.

Lyth was two balls slower, but then forged ahead, reaching 83 at tea with Lees on 66. The best bowling came from Barry McCarthy, who came on after the spinners an conceded eight runs in five overs.