Yorkshire lost a Roses classic against Lancashire after yet more final day drama at Headingley.

Andrew Gale’s side fought hard with the bat to get within 24 runs of their 284 target after starting Saturday’s final day at 136-6, needing another 148 to win their LV= County Championship clash.

Lancashire skipper Glen Chapple claimed five wickets to bowl the hosts out for 260 and boost his own side’s title chances, praising Yorkshire for their resilience at the end of the match.

But the stark reality is that Yorkshire, having lost by 23 runs only claimed four points, are now only 17 points above the division one relegation zone.

Director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon, who was not at Headingley to see Rich Pyrah inspire a stunning fight-back from 45-8 with a maiden ton earlier in the match, said: “We left ourselves a mountain to climb. We nearly climbed it, but not quite.

“It’s an outstanding fight-back, although we need to avoid those really bad periods of play. (This match) only gives us four points.

“There’s not a lot to choose between the two teams. We’ve had two hard-fought games against Lancashire and could have won both of them.

“There’s been some very good individual performances in the game. Obviously Rich Pyrah will take the headlines, but there’s no doubt that there’s character within the team. What we’ve got to do is avoid trying to make too many mistakes. As we know, playing at 80 per cent is not good enough in this division.”

Yorkshire began the day with Gale on 28 and night-watchman Ryan Sidebottom with him. But both fell within the first 11 overs of play to Chapple to leave the score at 177-8 and still needing another 107.

Sidebottom was smartly caught by Tom Smith at second slip and Gale trapped lbw.

Nobody should have been surprised, however, to see Adil Rashid, who top-scored with a composed 48 not out, and Ajmal Shahzad share 53 for the ninth wicket to increase the tension in the latter stages of the morning session. Chapple said “it was set up for the tail-enders to make hay when the ball got soft”. And Pyrah and Sidebottom had already shared 154 for the ninth wicket in Yorkshire’s first innings before Kyle Hogg and Sajid Mahmood added 80 for the same wicket in Lancashire’s second innings.

Shahzad fell for 22 before lunch, caught behind as he needlessly tried to hook Hogg, before Rashid and Pyrah continued to eke out the runs.

The game was up for Yorkshire when spinner Gary Keedy trapped Pyrah lbw in the 77th over.

Moxon is targeting at least two wins from the last five fixtures for survival.