STEVE Harmison bowled Durham back into the game at Headingley with his third five-wicket haul in his last four championship games, only for Andrew Gale’s obdurate innings of 84 to put Yorkshire back on top.

Ian Blackwell finally bowled Gale then removed Matthew Hoggard for nought as the last two wickets both went down on 313. But as Blackwell had turned the ball, it was clear that Adil Rashid would be a key man as Durham set about trying to wipe out a deficit of 135.

They had 13 overs to bat and Rashid was on for the fifth. He struck with 14 balls remaining, turning one through Mark Stoneman’s attempted drive, and Durham closed on 26 for one, 109 behind.

Gale He had been content to play second fiddle during half-century stands with Tim Bresnan and Rashid, and also found useful support from Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Ajmal Shahzad.

The ninth wicket stand of 84 really took the game away from Durham, with Shahzad making a career-best 41 not out. He was dropped on 34 by Phil Mustard and the wicketkeeper also fumbled a stumping chance with Gale on 66, much to Blackwell’s frustration.

Harmison opened with a superb spell of three for seven in seven overs. With Mark Davies picking up a wicket in his first over after replacing Harmison, Yorkshire had slumped from 64 for one at the start to 93 for five. But Bresnan contributed 36 to stand of 54 before he edged Harmison to third slip, then Rashid made a sprightly 32 before he was adjudged lbw to Blackwell.

Rana thrashed Blackwell for a huge six before surrendering to Harmison’s loosener with the new ball, which he clipped straight to mid-wicket.

After a poor first day, Durham came out full of purpose and an excellent opening over from Mitch Claydon was followed by Harmison striking with his fifth ball.

He had already beaten Anthony McGrath and this one found the edge and was very well caught by Kyle Coetzer at third slip.

An even better catch followed four overs later. Left-hander Joe Sayers turned the ball off the middle of the bat straight into the hands of Mark Stoneman, who clung on at short leg.

The next two wickets owed much to inexperience. Adam Lyth wafted at a short ball from Harmison and edged to Phil Mustard, then 19-year-old Jonny Bairstow played the paceman well but relaxed when he was rested.

Bairstow sliced Davies’ second ball just wide of gully for four, but three balls later the same shot flew straight into the hands of Liam Plunkett.

Plunkett was unable to find the same penetration as when taking 11 wickets in the last match against Worcestershire, while Davies was also played with relative comfort by the sixth-wicket pair.