Yorkshire's promotion challenge in the County Championship is heading towards a nerve-wracking conclusion.

The three teams in the race for a place in division one are in similar positions in their respective games after day one of the final round of fixtures.

The Tykes closed on 284 for eight in Chelmsford against Essex yesterday.

Leaders Derbyshire bowled Hampshire out for 272 and then reached 50 for three in reply in Derby, with third-placed Kent's opponents Glamorgan closing on 334 for eight in Cardiff.

"We think about 300 is a par score here so we're pretty pleased," said Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie.

"It's the end of the season and so everybody is keeping tabs on what is going on around the country. I suppose when it comes to the last match of the season that's what everybody is doing.

"For us that's no different really though because we've done that all season."

Yorkshire can remove themselves from any sort of final day tension by winning this match with a minimum of three bonus points to guarantee promotion.

Thanks to a sound effort on day one they already have two in the bag.

Much of this was down to a blistering cameo from Adam Lyth, who reached 67 off only 69 balls before being dismissed by Graham Napier.

His efforts helped Yorkshire recover from the early loss of Joe Root for a duck to take lunch on 111 for two, before four wickets fell during the afternoon session on a day which ebbed and flowed beautifully.

The visitors were in trouble on 166 for six, but any fears of a further slump were soon quashed by Andrew Hodd and Azeem Rafiq.

The two put on 58 for the seventh wicket until Hodd was run out 22, before Ryan Sidebottom then helped to continue the impressive fight-back.

He made 37 in a partnership of 60 before falling to Tom Craddock off the final ball of the day, to leave Rafiq unbeaten on a season's best score of 49 at the close.

Gillespie continued: "The way the boys played the last session was absolutely fantastic. I thought we had a couple of really good partnerships.

"Obviously we got off to a great start thanks to Adam Lyth, who was excellent. We did just lose our way a little bit after lunch, but from 160 odd for six to be in this position we are pretty happy with that.

"There's a bit of uneven bounce out there and some turn as well, so that is also good for us as we go deeper into this game."