Durham picked up two wickets after a brief morning shower with Joe Root, dismissed lbw off Graham Onions for 28 after he and Gale put on an opening stand of 50.
Anthony McGrath’s departed for a duck, caught down the leg side off Harmison in the 19th over of the day with Yorkshire 59-2.
Adam Lyth made his season-best 69 before he was stumped off Blackwell, and Jonathan Bairstow was run out by Dale Benkenstein when he played the ball to midwicket and set off before hesitating.
Gary Ballance, contributed 53 to an unbroken fifth-wicket stand of 120 with Gale, whose second century of the season came off 192 balls and he was unbeaten on 101 at the close of play with Yorkshire 57 ahead on 280-4.
The captains shook hands just before 5.00pm confirming the draw.
Durham CCC Head Coach Geoff Cook said, “They played with a lot of determination, they knew the task at the start of the day and had ten wickets to spare after lasting seven overs last night unscathed and I think the very fact that they didn’t lose a wicket last night gave them a boost to start with.
“We had to be really on our game from early on, have a little bit of luck and get wickets early on and credit to Gale and Lyth, they played well as the wicket improved.
“We tried everything, the wicket didn’t spin a lot for our spinners, we probably lost a bit of bounce from the seamers as well so it took a lot of effort on their behalf but it certainly wasn’t on lack of effort from our part that we didn’t come out on top.
“If you don’t win, maximum bonus points is the next best thing and I thought our batting was outstanding, to get to 400 in 70-odd overs like we did was a credit to Collingwood that he sured things up when he did when we were four down and a credit to the other guys who showed their ability and attacking skills to play around him.
“I was delighted for Paul – after a brilliant five or six years as a Test player he’s had a turbulent 18 months. I think yesterday was a great relief for him and to see the reception the players gave him from the balcony when he got his hundred just spoke volumes and showed how delighted everybody was for him to succeed. ”
Paul Collingwood: Didn’t field on day four after sustaining a groin injury. He will have a scan and an update will be posted along with team news [for Friday’s game] on Thursday although it is possible he will miss this weekend’s FLt20 fixtures.