Jonny Tattersall’s maiden first-class 50 in his second game led an evening fightback for Yorkshire against Division One leaders Surrey at Scarborough.

Surrey claimed four wickets during the opening afternoon to leave Yorkshire at 166 for six after electing to bat on a pacy North Marine Road pitch.

But they only struck twice more as the hosts reached close at 299 for eight from 96 overs as this Specsavers County Championship match made a fascinating start in front of a 4,384 crowd.

Tattersall and seventh-wicket partner Tim Bresnan, who made 48, frustrated Surrey by sharing 100 inside 32 overs from late afternoon onwards.

Tattersall top-scored with 70 off 156 balls, while Gary Ballance added 54. Adam Lyth (42), Che Pujara (23) and Jack Leaning (21) all got starts.

This was a hard-fought and fascinating day as both sides refused to give an inch.

Yorkshire reached lunch at 76 for two from 28 overs, losing openers Alex Lees (for a duck) and Lyth.

Lees was caught and bowled by Jade Dernbach and Lyth caught in the gully off on-song Morne Morkel as the score fell to 51 for two in the 20th.

Yorkshire’s India Test overseas Pujara typified the determination on show as he took 42 balls and 70 minutes to get off the mark having come in at number three.

He left the ball expertly, often on length, and first scored when he drove Ryan Patel through the covers for four to delight the home faithful.

Surrey then gained the upper hand after lunch.

Off-spinner Amar Virdi, 19, struck twice in three balls when he had Pujara caught at short-leg and then trapped Harry Brook lbw two balls later for a duck as he played back to one that skidded on, leaving Yorkshire at 107 for four in the 37th over.

Ballance pulled Virdi for six to reach a 60-ball fifty, but he fell when he was bowled by Rikki Clarke as he offered no shot to one angling in from around the wicket almost eleven overs later - 139 for five.

And when Leaning miscued a pull at Dernbach to deep mid-wicket, where Will Jacks took a low catch - his second of the day - Yorkshire were 166 for six in the 60th with Surrey looking likely to dominate.

But it did not work out that way as Tattersall and Bresnan, youth and experience, united to some effect.

No doubt, Surrey will bowl worse than this for more reward.

Their seamers regularly beat the bat and had Bresnan dropped on 18 as wicketkeeper Ollie Pope palmed a chance off Patel’s seamers for four at 200 for six.

Tattersall reached 50 off 126 balls in the final hour, getting there with three successive boundaries off Dernbach with the new ball.

Bresnan was later bowled by Rikki Clarke (266 for seven after 91 overs) before Morkel had Tattersall caught at second slip 10 runs later. Morkel finished with two for 53 from 23, including conceding 19 off the day’s last over with three no balls.