Ben Gibbon and Adam Finch stand up to Ben Coad’s five powers in Yorkshire.

On day three of the LV=Insurance County Championship encounter at New Road, Ben Coad returned his season’s best figures with the ball, but Yorkshire’s victory push was stymied by Worcestershire’s last-wicket partnership of Adam Finch and Ben Gibbon.

Coad concluded with 5 for 33 from 21 overs, his 11th five-wicket haul of the season, and he was ably supported by Mark Steketee and Matthew Fisher as Worcestershire were forced to chase 165.

Finch and Ben  Gibbon, on the other hand, ate away vital time to boost Worcestershire’s chances of a draw by batting for 35.3 overs during the innings’ highest partnership of 63.

It kept Yorkshire in the field for two hours and put extra miles on the legs of several of their bowlers, who were eager to take on Worcestershire’s top order for the second time.Ben Gibbon 41 not out was a career high, and Finch followed up his five-wicket haul yesterday with a courageous 24 before being bowled.

Yorkshire are undoubtedly sick of seeing Finch after his three sixes off Fisher in the final over of the Vitality Blast encounter at New Road in May gave his side an unexpected victory.

Coad was a persistent menace, picking up his second five-wicket haul of the season after his 5 for 54 against Sussex at Hove in April.

As Worcestershire reached 22 for naught and was 143 in arrears going into the final day, they once again proved difficult to remove.

With three boundaries off of Coad, Jack Haynes seemed in good shape as Worcestershire resumed the day on 46 for 2.

He was thrown off his legs and onto the ropes after being squared, covered, and driven. But Haynes (29) was ruled out of bounds by Coad with the final ball of the day’s sixth over.

Azhar Ali fought well against some probing deliveries before switching ends and falling to Coad. He was squared up by a delivery and gave George Hill a simple first slip catch.

Prior to Josh Baker being caught at cover driving at Coad, Joe Leach and Baker shared 31 runs for the eighth wicket.

Leach produced an impressive 33 from 44 balls before getting caught by Coad at third slip after a ball lifted on him.

With 47 over left in the day, Worcestershire were presently 179 for nine. Then, though, Finch and Ben Gibbon teamed up to thwart Yorkshire’s attempts to quickly finish the innings.