YORKSHIRE made early inroads into the Middlesex batting line-up as they went in pursuit of a historic third Specsavers County Championship title at Lord’s.

Knowing only a win would keep their hopes alive, they reduced the Division One leaders to 84-3 at lunch, having picked up their first bowling bonus point.

With Andrew Gale having chosen to field under grey skies, Brooks struck in just the fourth over of the match as Sam Robson was trapped lbw by a full delivery without scoring.

The former Northamptonshire seamer then picked up the key wicket of Nick Compton, with the England batsman offering no shot to a straight delivery to be adjudged lbw for eight.

It could have been far better for the White Rose county as Adam Lyth and Azeem Rafiq both dropped regulation catches in the space of three balls.

But David Willey ensured Dawid Malan (22) did not prosper from the first of those reprieves as he bowled the left-hander via an inside edge.

Nick Gubbins (42no) was able to hold firm until the interval as he and Steve Eskinazi ensured no further wickets fell late in the session.