When Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale spoke about his team needing to prove something on the final day at Durham, it was clear that he expected a performance from the Tykes.

Thanks to a terrific individual effort from himself, he got it.

This is after the left-hander played one of his finest innings for the county to make sure the White Rose ended a tough LV= County Championship division one match with a draw.

While the five points picked up does not stop them from falling into the relegation places, thanks to Worcestershire’s victory over Hampshire, it again proves there is no lack of fighting spirit in the squad ahead of the second half of the season.

Gale embodied it at Chester-le-Street, finishing on 101 not out to help his team close on 280-4 when the game was declared as a draw at 5pm.

“It was a chanceless knock really,” said Gale.

“I have tinkered around with my Championship game recently and I felt really good. It was nice as a captain to lead by example.”

The Tykes skipper came to the crease with his side in trouble, on 59-2, before settling any nerves with the help of Adam Lyth.

Together, they added 95 runs for the third wicket, until Lyth was stumped by Phil Mustard off Ian Blackwell for 69 to leave Yorkshire three down.

The opener was obviously disappointed with himself as he left proceedings, but after making his highest score of the season so far he might look back on this innings as the one which cemented his place back in the first team.

“Lythy will get confidence from his innings,” added Gale.

“His movements were good at the crease and I am pleased with the way he played.”

After his partner’s departure, Gale kept on going though, with Gary Ballance then providing the vital support following York-based Jonny Bairstow’s run out for only six.

By the time play came to an end he had made 53 – with Gale past three figures for the third time this season to finish off a good day all round for the county.

Before play started the Tykes had already been given a boost, with the news that none of their players had been called into England’s one-day squad for the upcoming series with Sri Lanka.

This means the likes of Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad will be available for more of the county’s Friends Life t20 games than originally thought.

The next of those is tonight against Derbyshire – although Bresnan will not play until Friday against Warwickshire as he continues to recover from a calf injury.

Ryan Sidebottom will also miss the clash with the Falcons at Headingley, as he is being given a week off to recover from a busy start to the 2011 campaign.