Yorkshire found an ally in the weather yesterday as they continued their bid to go through a whole Championship season without a defeat for the first time since 1928.

And they will have achieved their objective if they can hold out today on the final day of their encounter with Northamptonshire at Northampton.

But the odds are still weighed heavily against them because they will resume on 101 for four and still wanting 198 runs to avoid the innings defeat.

Things looked grim for Yorkshire when they were due to embark on the third day on 22 for one and 277 runs behind.

But just before the starting time light rain caused a 45-minute delay and after 18 overs had been bowled more general rain had the players off until conditions improved sufficiently to restart at 4.45pm.

In the morning's second over, Yorkshire lost Matthew Wood who nudged Monty Panesar to Damien Wright at second slip, and it became 43 for three when nightwatchman, Mark Lawson edged the left-arm spinner to Martin Love at second slip.

Anthony McGrath and Michael Lumb survived until the rain returned at 55 for three and on the resumption Lumb off-drove Panesar's first ball for four.

Neither Panesar nor off-spinner, Jason Brown, disturbed the fourth wicket pair too much until Panesar changed ends and McGrath, who had made a gritty 30, gave Love another slip catch.

Panesar had claimed all four wickets to fall but Lumb remained defiant and much will depend upon him settling in again if Yorkshire are to save the match.

* Durham are hoping Yorkshire might do them a favour by ending their long losing sequence in the final totesport League programme tomorrow.

The Tykes face division two leaders Sussex at Headingley and a home win would give Durham the chance to clinch the title by beating third-placed Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Durham have left out Gavin Hamilton following his decision to retire from first-class cricket, so Gary Scott is expected to step in.

* Hampshire profited from the compliance of newly-crowned Frizzell County champions Nottinghamshire to claim runners-up spot as they wrapped up an innings-and-188-run victory with a day to spare at the Rose Bowl.

Only the determination of Darren Bicknell held Hampshire up for long as they moved back above other top-flight winners Sussex.