ANDREW GALE’S first competitive day of cricket as Yorkshire’s new captain went like a dream yesterday as his side bowled out Warwickshire for 217 before consolidating with the bat at Edgbaston.

Ajmal Shahzad and Steve Patterson took three wickets each after Gale had boldly decided to bowl first on a notoriously batsman-friendly pitch.

Joe Sayers later added 50 in a third wicket partnership of 62 with Jacques Rudolph, who finished the day unbeaten on 43 as the Tykes reached 128 for three from 36 overs in reply.

“It was a good start to our season,” said Tim Bresnan, who chipped in with two for 71 from 19 overs. “Winning the toss you need to bowl them out for 300, and we managed to do that.

“It’s going to be harder bowling in the second innings if the pitch continues to flatten out, but if we can get a lead of 100-150 and bowl well again hopefully we can then knock off the runs for a win.”

While the likes of Shahzad, Patterson, Bresnan and Oliver Hannon- Dalby will take the bulk of the credit for their side’s strong position, Gale’s excellent decision-making deserves a mention.

Five of the ten Warwickshire wickets to fall were taken by bowlers in the first over of a new spell.

Bresnan had England batsman Ian Bell (31) caught behind by Jonny Bairstow before Hannon-Dalby trapped Ian Westwood lbw for 39 just after lunch to reduce the hosts to 99 for four.

Shahzad and Patterson then returned to snare Jim Troughton, superbly caught at second slip by Anthony McGrath for 39, and Chris Woakes bowled.

Shahzad returned again to have Imran Tahir caught at first slip by Rudolph.

Bresnan added: “Andrew’s got some experienced heads out there like myself, Mags and Jacques to help him out when needed, but ultimately the final decision is his.

He mixed up his bowlers really well.”

Warwickshire were 156 for seven but Neil Carter top scored with a brisk 41 in an eighth-wicket partnership of 47 with Naqaash Tahir.

Shahzad finished with 3- 40 from 13.2 overs, Patterson 3-51 from 14 and Hannon- Dalby and Adil Rashid also added a wicket each on a pitch that is misbehaving more when the new ball is in operation.

Yorkshire opened with Sayers and Adam Lyth, who fell within the first five overs. McGrath was then caught behind by Tim Ambrose off Naqaash to leave the visitors 45 for two.

Sayers hit seven fours and a six in his 86-ball knock, but was stumped off former White Rose leg-spinner Imran.

Rudolph, who passed 12,000 first-class career runs, also hit seven boundaries in his 81-ball stay at the crease, and will return today with Gale for company.

Scoreboard

Warwickshire v Yorkshire At Edgbaston

Warwickshire First Innings

I J Westwood lbw b Hannon-Dalby ......39

V Chopra lbw b Shahzad ..................... 4

I R Bell c Bairstow b Bresnan ................31

I J Trott c Bairstow b Patterson .............. 7

J O Troughton c McGrath b Shahzad ...39

T R Ambrose c Rudolph b Patterson ..... 5

C R Woakes b Patterson ...................... 9

N M Carter lbw b A U Rashid ................41

N Tahir c Patterson b Bresnan ..............23

Imran Tahir c Rudolph b Shahzad ........12

A S Miller not out ....................... 0

Extras (b5 lb2 pens 0) ................. 7

Total (59.2 overs) ......................217

Fall: 1-6 2-59 3-68 4-99 5-132 6-134 7-156 8-203 9-215

Bowling: Bresnan 19-3-71-2. Shahzad 13.2- 3-40-3. Hannon-Dalby 8-2-35-1. Patterson 14- 1-51-3. McGrath 1-0-2-0. A U Rashid 4-1-11-1.

Yorkshire First Innings Close

A Lyth c Westwood b Woakes .............. 6

J J Sayers st Ambrose b Imran Tahir .....50

A McGrath c Ambrose b N Tahir ...........13

J A Rudolph not out ............................43

A W Gale not out ..........................9

Extras (b4 lb3 pens 0) ................. 7

Total 3 wkts (36 overs)..............128

Fall: 1-20 2-45 3-107

To Bat: J M Bairstow, A U Rashid, T T Bresnan, A Shahzad, S A Patterson, O J Hannon- Dalby

Bonus Pts: Warwickshire 1 Yorkshire 3

Woakes 9-4-18-1. N Tahir 7-0-33-1. Carter 6- 2-22-0. Miller 8-2-25-0. Imran Tahir 6-1-23-1.