A composed half-century from Rikki Clarke held up Yorkshire’s pursuit of a crucial LV= County Championship victory at Headingley.

Another impressive display from leg-spinner Adil Rashid ensured the hosts will be the happier of the two sides after three days.

Three more wickets for pace bowler Steve Patterson, who finished with figures of 4-57 from 22 overs, forced the visitors to follow on as they were bowled out for a first innings 253 in reply to 425.

Rashid, who also claimed four wickets in the first innings, then struck three times to reduce the score to 82-3 in the 27th over, picking up the wickets of Darren Maddy, Ant Botha and Ian Westwood for 42.

Warwickshire were batting for a second time with a deficit of 172 – and, after Rashid’s trio of scalps, a three-day finish was on the cards.

He bowled Maddy just before lunch, then had Botha caught behind by Gerard Brophy and Westwood trapped lbw in successive overs. The 22-year-old finished with second innings figures of 3-69 from 17.

But Clarke, having hit 46 not out first time around, dug in to frustrate Yorkshire with 51 not out off 116 balls, taking his side to 193-3 after 67 overs when rain ended proceedings with ten still to be bowled.

The former Surrey all-rounder shared a half-century stand with 18-year-old Ateeq Javid after Jim Troughton was forced to retire hurt following a blow on the head from a vicious Tino Best bouncer.

Troughton was taken to hospital for a check up with the score at 129-3, allowing Javid and Clarke to take their side into the lead with seven wickets still in the hutch.

The left-hander sustained a cut above his right eye, but is expected to bat today.

Whatever happens today, Yorkshire will extend their lead at the top of the division one table after Nottinghamshire lost their match against Essex at Chelmsford inside three days.

They still have a game in hand on Yorkshire, who would lead by 21 points if they could claim a fourth win today. If not, the lead would be eight with a draw. It would also be Rudolph’s first win as Yorkshire captain at the 11th attempt.

Yorkshire’s attack seemed to tire in the latter stages of the afternoon session. They have now been in the field for just short of four sessions.

Clarke hit four fours and two sixes, both over long-on off the spin of Rashid and Azeem Rafiq.

Javed recorded a career-best 37 off 94 balls, and he and Clarke put on an unbroken 64.

Yorkshire will need quick wickets when play resumes and the visitors will aim to build on their lead of 21.

• Yorkshire duo Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad are bidding for places in the England side today as they embark on a three-match one-day series against Bangladesh at Trent Bridge.