Part-time medium pacer Vic Craven gave Yorkshire a chance of becoming the first team to beat Worcestershire this season.

He dismissed Graeme Hick and Ben Smith after both had made half-centuries at New Road yesterday.

Worcestershire closed the third day on 208 for six with an overall lead of 192 and the game is all set for a thrilling finish which could go either way.

If Yorkshire do win, it will boost their chances of promotion and a draw should then be sufficient against close rivals Gloucestershire in the final Championship match of the season which starts at Headingley on Wednesday.

Another glorious day began badly for Yorkshire, who resumed on 266 for five ,and they soon lost nightwatchman Steve Kirby and Richard Blakey to catches behind the wicket by James Pipe off Nantie Hayward.

At 289 for seven, a first innings lead looked unlikely but Craig White and Richard Dawson began picking up runs eagerly and there was an escape for White on 23 when he drove hard to mid-wicket where Smith got two hands to the ball as he dived to his left but could not quite hold on.

White struck Gareth Batty over long on for six before completing his half-century and the situation had improved considerably by lunch when the pair had added 104 together and Yorkshire were four runs in front at 393 for seven.

But everything went pear-shaped after the interval and the score was still unchanged when White pushed half-forward at Bradford-born David Wigley and was lbw to bring the paceman his first Championship wicket for Worcestershire.

White's 66 came off 131 balls with six fours and a six.

Richard Dawson reached a competitive 50 soon afterwards by driving Kabir Ali for his ninth boundary but ten runs later he attempted to force Kabir through the off side and lost his middle stump.

The innings was wrapped up off the first ball of the next over from Wigley, which Chris Silverwood aimed straight to Gareth Batty at square leg.

Yorkshire's lead was only 16, but they had gained the satisfaction of taking a maximum eight bonus points out of the match.

Before Worcestershire wiped off the arrears they lost Stephen Peters, who was caught and bowled by Silverwood without scoring.

Determined and accurate bowling led to Kadeer Ali edging Matthew Hoggard to Blakey, but Worcestershire hit back with a 76 stand in 17 overs between Hick and Smith, who was soon looking as comfortable as in the first innings when he made 110.

Hick is experiencing a dreadful season by his normal standards, but he settled in to complete his first half-century in 12 first class innings before he drove over a yorker from Craven and was bowled for 57 from 101 balls with eight fours.

Craven, who is earning a reputation for hitting the stumps, struck again by bowling Smith off his pads, also for 57 off 71 deliveries with nine boundaries.

There were more successes for Yorkshire as Anurag Singh fell to the first ball of a new spell from Silverwood and Justin Kemp was pinned lbw by Steve Kirby with three overs remaining.

Updated: 12:08 Monday, September 15, 2003