Jonny Bairstow says Yorkshire’s crucial LV= County Championship victory against Warwickshire yesterday provided him with one of the biggest highs of his career so far.

The 20-year-old from York hit 64 not out off 61 balls to ensure the White Rose chased down 200 from a minimum of 37 overs in the final session at Headingley with 14 balls to spare and six wickets in hand.

Yorkshire are now 21 points clear of Nottinghamshire at the top of the table, although the Trent Bridge side still have two games in hand.

“To beat a Championship side in such an important situation, especially with how hard we’ve been working, is right up there with regards to feelings I’ve had,” he said, after completing the win with a six over mid-wicket off leg-spinner Imran Tahir.

Yorkshire’s chase was underpinned by Jacques Rudolph’s 80 off 91 balls. But, when Rudolph was run out in the 27th over with Yorkshire at 127-3, the game was in the balance.

However, Bairstow – whose 81 was key in beating the same opponents in a similarly nervy run chase at Edgbaston in the first week of the season – was exceptional in guiding his side home with a mixture of power hitting and tireless running.

Rikki Clarke’s unbeaten 127 had given the visitors hope of scuppering Yorkshire’s charge for a fourth victory, with Warwickshire reaching a second innings total of 371 at tea.

He and Imran (41) shared a frustrating stand of 75 for the eighth wicket, but the Bears lost their last three wickets quickly to settle home nerves.

“They made it tough for us, but we managed to do enough. We got the wickets when it really mattered,” continued Bairstow.

Adil Rashid claimed two more of them yesterday to finish with 5-137 from 39 overs, and match figures of 9-208, while Steve Patterson nagged away with 3-25 from 15.3.

Adam Lyth and Anthony McGrath both departed inside 12 overs of the chase, but Rudolph and Bairstow shared 80 for the third wicket in 15 overs.

Yorkshire’s running between the wickets was largely excellent, but Rudolph was run out going for two to start the nerves jangling. At that stage, Yorkshire needed 74 off 64 balls.

It was a tough ask, but a combination of brilliant batting and dreadful fielding meant Yorkshire, with the help of important cameos from Gerard Brophy and Rashid, extended their lead at the top in style.

Bairstow added: “We’ve done well to go 21 points clear of Notts, though they’ve got two games in hand. But we’ve got them to play twice in the run-in.”

Yorkshire travel to Old Trafford tonight for a televised must-win Friends Provident Twenty20 Roses match against Lancashire.