Yorkshire v Lancashire (County Championship) : Day One

YORKSHIRE are locked in a war of attrition with Roses rivals Lancashire after an intriguing opening day of the County Championship clash at Headingley yesterday.

The White Rose fought their way to 306-7 at close on a day when neither side really took a definitive advantage.

It was a topsy-turvy day of county cricket, as both sides had their moments of control. Having lost the toss and been invited to bat, the Tykes will probably just be the happier going into today's second day.

Jacques Rudolph top scored with an elegant 66, while wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy hit 59, Anthony McGrath a classy 45 and Adil Rashid 43.

Former England pace bowler Sajid Mahmood led Lancashire's bowling attack admirably, returning impressive figures of 4- 61 from 22 overs. Left-arm spinner Gary Keedy (2-43 from 20) and Steven Croft shared the other three wickets.

The disappointing aspect from Yorkshire's point of view was that not one of their batsmen capitalised on solid starts to their individual innings. The likes of Rudolph, Brophy, McGrath, Rashid and Andrew Gale (32) all looked set to go on and convert, but could not manage to hang in long enough.

Left hander Gale will be the most disappointed. On the back of a career best 150 in last week's LV Division One draw at Surrey, Gale was looking good again. But he lobbed Keedy to Mal Loye at point midway through the afternoon session to leave the score at 177-5.

Lancashire, who were looking for some kind of pick-me up after Wednesday's shocking Friends Provident display with the bat, started well.

Mahmood, the 26 year-old who has a Test career best of 6-130 against Pakistan at Leeds in 2006, took the first three wickets of the match in reduce the hosts to 94-3 just after lunch.

He trapped Joe Sayers lbw in the third over to leave the score at 0-1, as he also got Adam Lyth and McGrath caught behind by stand-in skipper Luke Sutton.

Rudolph and Gale then put on a steadying fourth wicket partnership of 77, with Rudolph reaching his fifty from 108 balls.

But he also went caught behind by Sutton, this time off the bowling of medium paced all-rounder Croft. And when Gale went three overs later, Lancashire were back in the hunt.

That changed again with the highest stand of the day - a sixth wicket alliance of 79 between Brophy, 50 from 65 balls with nine fours, and Rashid. Mahmood got his fourth of the day when Brophy wafted at a wide delivery to feather an edge through to a diving Sutton to leave the score at 256-6.

Keedy got rid of Rashid as close approached, while wicketkeeper Sutton had a fine day with the gloves to claim five catches.

Tim Bresnan will be the main man charged with pushing the Tykes up towards the two further batting points awarded for 350 and 400. The hosts have gained three already, with Bresnan unbeaten on 15 and fellow allrounder Rich Pyrah with him on nine.

SCOREBOARD

Yorkshire v Lancashire At Headingley Carnegie.

Lancashire Won Toss Yorkshire First Innings Close

J J Sayers lbw b Mahmood ... 0

A Lyth c Sutton b Mahmood ... 19

A McGrath c Sutton b Mahmood ... 45

J A Rudolph c Sutton b Croft ... 66

A W Gale c Loye b Keedy ... 32

G L Brophy c Sutton b Mahmood ... 59

A U Rashid c Sutton b Keedy ... 43

T T Bresnan not out ...15

R M Pyrah not out .... 9

Extras (lb9 w3 nb6 pens 0) ... 18

Total 7 wkts (96 overs) ...306

Fall: 1-0 2-47 3-94 4-171 5-177 6-256 7-297 To Bat: D Gough, B W Sanderson.

Bowling: Mahmood 22-7-61-4. Cork 18-6-45-0.

Croft 21-4-77-1. Newby 14-1-67-0. Keedy 20-3- 43-2. du Plessis 1-0-4-0.