A bad week for Lancashire grew worse yesterday as their bowlers were dominated by Yorkshire's batsmen at Old Trafford. Andrew Gale and Anthony McGrath added 215 for the second wicket as Yorkshire moved into a first-innings lead shortly before the close.

Gale reached an admirably patient century from 265 balls, his third of the season, but McGrath trudged off shortly before the close, having been adjudged leg-before for 99, pushing forward at the leg-spin of Francois du Plessis All of which created further problems for Law, whose criticism of the club's failure to consult him over the release of Dominic Cork will be discussed by the Lancashire committee next week.

If Yorkshire are feeling bold, they could attempt to score quickly this morning and declare in the hope of giving Adil Rashid, who took five wickets in the first innings, enough time to bowl Lancashire out for a second time.

McGrath did not offer a chance until his dismissal, having hit six fours and a six from 222 balls, but Gale was missed on 64, when he edged Keedy past Stuart Law's right hand at slip.

Worryingly for Lancashire, their attack looked woefully short of penetration, particularly Gary Keedy, whose turn was too slow on a pitch taking spin. Keedy has taken only 20 championship wickets this season at an average of 42 with a best haul of three for 28.

This is a poor return for a frontline spinner, especially if Lancashire are going to play on spin-friendly wickets, although this is their last championship match at Old Trafford this season.

Simon Marshall, the leg-spinner, was released earlier this week and Lancashire are eager to recruit another slow bowler before next season. After tea yesterday, Glen Chapple even resorted to bowling a spell of slow off-cutters.

Rashid, following his career-best seven-wicket haul against Hampshire last week, had taken the last two Lancashire wickets in the morning session. First he ended a ninth-wicket stand of 66 by having Steven Croft caught at long-off, then Sajid Mahmood sliced to point to complete the seventh five-wicket haul of Rashid's career.

Cork, still smarting from the decision to release him, then struck with his fifth ball, trapping Chris Taylor leg-before. Cue the familiar theatrical star-shaped celebration and an inevitable gesture in the direction of the committee balcony on the pavilion. He could not, however, reinforce his point with further wickets, but then that was a trait shared with most of the Lancashire bowlers.

Scoreboard

Lancashire: First Innings
P J Horton lbw b Rashid 16
I J Sutcliffe b Hoggard 3
F du Plessis c McGrath b Rashid 38
L Vincent c Brophy b Bresnan 4
S J Croft c Naved-ul-Hasan b A U Rashid 68
L D Sutton c Brophy b Hoggard 9
G Chapple b Hoggard 11
D G Cork c Naved-ul-Hasan b Rashid1
G Keedy not out 25 S I Mahmood c Bresnan b Rashid 0
Extras (b 8, lb 5, nb 6) 19

Total (73.4 overs) 231

Fall of wickets: 1-3, 2-57, 3-69, 4-87, 5-133, 6-142, 7-164, 8-165, 9-231.

Bowling: Hoggard 13-3-26-3; Naved 12-1-40-0; Bresnan 10-1-34-2; Gough 8-1-23-0; Rashid 30.4-4-95-5.

Yorkshire: First Innings
A W Gale not out 111
C R Taylor lbw b Cork 2
A McGrath lbw b Du Plessis 99
J A Rudolph not out 3
Extras (b 7, lb 9, w 1, nb 2) 19

Total (2 wkts, 86 overs) 234

A Lyth, G L Brophy, A U Rashid, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, *D Gough, M J Hoggard and T T Bresnan to bat.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-219.

Bowling: Chapple 17-5-37-0; Cork 9-2-16-1; Keedy 31-7-74-0; Mahmood 12-0-42-0; Du Plessis 8-2-20-1; Croft 9-1-29-0.

Umpires: G I Burgess and A A Jones.