ADAM LYTH completed his first century across all formats since September 2018 before Lancashire’s response to Yorkshire’s first-innings 260 was mixed on day three at Emerald Headingley.

This penultimate round Bob Willis Trophy North Group fixture is heading for a weather-affected draw given 122 overs were lost to rain on days one and two and the likelihood of play on day four is minimal due to an adverse forecast.

Should the poor final day forecast prove incorrect, it could be that a contrived result occurs, but accruing bonus points was the objective during the third day.

For that reason, it was somewhat of a surprise to see Lancashire show little intent to pass 200 for a first batting point as they closed on 195 for five from 69 overs.

Second-placed Yorkshire – two points behind leaders Derbyshire prior to this fixture – are still in the thick of the race to finish top of the North and secure a Lord’s final place. Lancashire, meanwhile, are all but out of the running given they were third and 22 points off the pace.

Both sides have claimed three bonus points apiece.

Lyth’s wait for a first-class century stretches back 20 matches and almost two years, although this was his fourth career Roses first-class ton. He started the day on 86 with Yorkshire 178 for six from 66 overs of their first innings.

In completing a 55-run stand with fledgling all-rounder George Hill, he moved to his long awaited century off 218 balls with back-to-back boundaries off Danny Lamb’s seamers.

Lamb completed career best figures of four for 55 in bowling Yorkshire out before lunch, bowling Hill for a composed 29 in his second game and getting Steve Patterson caught at first slip.

Lyth was the first morning departure when he edged a loose drive at Tom Bailey to first slip – 219 for seven in the 80th over.

Lamb then bowled Hill in the 81st and got Patterson four overs later, leaving the White Rose at 234 for nine and bringing about a nervy pursuit of a second batting bonus point for reaching 250.

But South African fast bowler Duanne Olivier eased any concerns with an unbeaten 20 before George Balderson wrapped up the innings by trapping Jared Warner lbw.

Through the majority of the afternoon, Lancashire openers Alex Davies, who top-scored with 73, and Keaton Jennings took advantage of the easiest batting conditions of the match to share their second successive century opening partnership having closed out last week’s draw at Nottinghamshire with 120 in the second innings.

Their 104-run partnership in 34 overs was dominated by Davies, though both men drove handsomely.

Davies reached his third fifty of the competition off 73 balls and later moved to 4,000 first-class career runs upon reaching 56.

Yorkshire then hit back impressively either side of tea with a trio of wickets in six overs as their rivals slipped to 112 for three in the 41st.

Jennings was first to go for 23, trapped lbw sweeping at Lyth’s part-time off-spin before pacy Warner - on loan at Sussex last year - picked up his maiden first-class wicket for Yorkshire.

Josh Bohannon, edging behind, was the man to fall before metronomic home skipper Patterson (one for 23 from 19) had Davies lbw playing to leg.

Hill was made to wait for his maiden first-class wicket in his second game, with Lyth and Tom Kohler-Cadmore missing difficult chances in the slips off his seamers.

But he struck late in the day as Lancashire, following a 65-run stand between Dane Vilas (41) and Rob Jones (21), lost both men to successive deliveries, slipping to 177 for five in the 61st over.

Olivier trapped Vilas lbw with one that kept low before Jones was caught behind driving at a delighted - and relieved - Hill.

At stumps, Lyth said: “It was very, very pleasing to get to a hundred. I’ve been trying like hell and have got out in the eighties and nineties."

Yorkshire 260 v Lancashire 195-5, Emerald Headingley