Toby Roland-Jones took four wickets but Middlesex were frustrated by Tim Bresnan’s unbeaten 72 on an absorbing second day of this pivotal clash at Lord’s.
The momentum swung throughout as Yorkshire first polished off the home side’s final five wickets for 41 runs in the morning session.
Roland-Jones then reduced the visitors to 32-3 as he removed Alex Lees, Gary Ballance and Andrew Gale all for ducks.
But Bresnan led a gutsy Yorkshire fightback, sharing in a stand of 116 with Andy Hodd (64) as the champions fought hard to hang on to their title.
The former England all-rounder had earlier claimed the key wickets of Nick Gubbins (125) and James Franklin (48), who were unbeaten after the first day.
Jack Brooks took the last three wickets to fall as Middlesex added just 62 to their overnight score.
Roland-Jones spearheaded the riposte with a new-ball spell of 3-7 in eight overs that could yet prove decisive as Middlesex press for their first Championship since 1993.
While chaos reigned at the Pavilion End, Adam Lyth played impressively for 43 before he was unluckily bowled by a delivery from Steve Finn which rolled off his bat onto the stumps.
Bresnan, in at number five, ensured Middlesex would not have it all their own way, his 72 not out coming from 178 balls and with seven fours.
Two wickets in the last hour – Roland-Jones removing Hodd and Tim Murtagh trapping David Willey lbw – tilted the balance back Middlesex’s way as Yorkshire ended the day trailing by 35.
They need to get 350 in the first innings and then win to retain their title, meaning the will rely heavily on Bresnan and Azeem Rafiq (20 not out) when they resumed on Thursday.
This post was last modified on 22/09/2016