YORKSHIRE captain Andrew Gale took centre-stage with a stunning knock as he extended his career-best score to a mammoth 272 against Nottinghamshire.

Gale struck 25 fours and four sixes in a 404-ball stay at the crease in the County Championship top flight match at Scarborough, while Gary Ballance contributed 141 as Yorkshire declared on 572-8 and with a first-innings lead of 129.

Nottinghamshire then closed on 105-1 in their second innings as the spoils were shared.

Gale’s knock was the 13th highest score in the county’s history and the third highest since the Second World War.

Luke Wright hit a brilliant career-best 187 to help Division I leaders Sussex avoid a first Championship defeat of the season in the top-of-the-table battle against Middlesex at Lord’s.

Second-placed Middlesex looked on course for victory after reducing Sussex to 304-7 in their second innings – a lead of only 27 runs over their hosts with just three wickets remaining.

However, one of those wickets was Wright and the England limited-overs international plundered the Middlesex attack for 187 off 276 balls, with 25 fours, to help Sussex reach 454 and within sight of safety.

Wright’s efforts left Middlesex needing an improbable 178 for victory off 20 overs and, with time against them, the home side reached 50-3 off eight overs when the teams shook hands on a draw.

Winless Surrey also staged a fine fightback on the final day to deny defending champions Warwickshire victory after being forced to follow on 357 runs behind at Guildford.

Surrey began on 269-7 in their first innings but could only add five to their tally as Boyd Rankin (four for 43) and Keith Barker (four for 45) combined to get rid of international trio Chris Tremlett (0), Ricky Ponting (52) and Jade Dernbach (2).

The home side were immediately inserted again.

However, they safely negotiated their way to a draw, finishing on 234 for four with opener Rory Burns top-scoring with 85.