Close of Play Day 1: Middlesex 212; Yorkshire 96-4
Jack Brooks led the way for Yorkshire with a five-wicket haul as the County Champions bowled out table-toppers Middlesex for 212 on the first day of LV=County Championship match at Headingley.
But Middlesex soon hit back with quick wickets of their own as Yorkshire dipped to 52 for four and ended an eventful day on 96 for four. Winning the toss on a dry batting surface tinged with green, Middlesex would have been in even deeper trouble but for a studious knock of 70 from Nick Compton off 153 balls with nine boundaries.
Both sides went into the game unbeaten, Yorkshire being without Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett who were both on England one-day international duty along with Middlesex's Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn. Yorkshire had hoped to have veteran left-arm paceman back in the side after a calf injury but he experienced stiffness during the pre-match practice session and was replaced by Will Rhodes.
Brooks, sharing the new ball with Tim Bresnan, was straight into the groove from the start and in his second over he had Joe Burns palpably lbw, but Middlesex were steadied by a patient stand of 62 between Sam Robson and Compton. Robson was the more attacking, particularly through mid-wicket where he picked up his first four boundaries, but Compton was pedestrian by comparison, moving into double figures with his first boundary off his 28th delivery and then taking a further 26 balls to add to his score.
It looked as if the pair would see out the morning session until Robson was bowled by a beauty from Brooks which took middle and off and at lunch Middlesex were still reasonably in control at 83 for two. But the situation changed rapidly in the afternoon, Dawid Malan receiving a fine ball from Steven Patterson which he edged to wicket-keeper, Jonny Bairstow, who then caught Neil Dexter off Brooks before he had scored.
Compton, looking mainly unperturbed, completed his 50 just after Australian all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell, had been brought on, and the off-spinner claimed three quick wickets to leave Middlesex in disarray on 147 for seven. James Franklin and John Simpson departed in the space of three balls and after Ollie Rayner plundered five boundaries in quick succession off Maxwell he was then bowled through his legs.
Jack Leaning held on to a splendid slip catch at the second attempt to end Compton's defiance and bring Brooks his fourth wicket and after Toby Roland-Jones had gone to Patterson, Brooks rounded things off as Harris hooked him to long leg.
Yorkshire were soon in dire straits themselves, a rapid start by Lyth and Lees fizzling out as both were caught low at second slip by Rayner in consecutive overs from Roland Jones and Tim Murtagh and when Gary Ballance and Andrew Gale fell lbw to Murtagh and Harris respectively the Champions were up against it. Bairstow and Leaning, however, both in prime form, ensured there were no further setbacks before the close.
Tea Update - Day 1
County Champions, Yorkshire, carved their way through Middlesex's batting at Headingley today after the visitors had won the toss and shown plenty of early resistance, led by Nick Compton. But he fell for 70 off 153 balls with nine boundaries as Middlesex crumbled in the afternoon session and tea was taken when they were bowled out for 212 in 68.5 overs.
Paceman, Jack Brooks, bowling with commendable control, claimed five for 44 and was given a standing ovation, while Australian all-rounder, Glenn Maxwell, in his first home Championship appearance for Yorkshire, struck three times with his off-spin.
After Joe Burns had fallen early on to Brooks, Middlesex recovered with a 62 stand between Sam Robson and Compton which ended when Brooks knocked back Robson's stumps for 41.
Middlesex hit trouble again in the first over after lunch as Steven Patterson had Dawid Malan edging to Jonny Bairstow who then held on to Neil Dexter off Brooks before the batsman had scored. Maxwell joined the attack at 108 for four and grabbed two wickets in three balls, James Franklin being caught off bat and bad by Jack Leaning at short leg and John Simpson falling lbw to one which kept low.
Ollie Rayner took the attack to Maxwell with five boundaries in quick succession but was then bowled by the spinner and Compton's noble innings was ended by Brooks, thanks to a great catch at the second attempt by Leaning at third slip.
Patterson had Toby Roland-Jones lbw and there was a 24 stand for the last wicket before James Harris hooked Brooks into the hands of Gary Ballance at long leg. Yorkshire were without Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett who are both on one-day international duty with England as are Middlesex's Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn. Ryan Sidebottom had hoped to make his return following a calf injury but he pulled up during the pre-match practice session and Will Rhodes took his place while off-spinner, James Middlebrook, was also omitted.
Lunch Update - Day 1
County Champions, Yorkshire, claimed an early wicket against table-toppers, Middlesex, at Headingley today, before Sam Robson and Nick Compton settled into a fruitful second wicket partnership.
They looked quite comfortable in adding 62 but Jack Brooks then dismissed Robson to claim his second wicket and at lunch Middlesex were 83 for two off 31 overs. Middlesex, who won the toss, were happy to take first use of a good batting pitch but they had to proceed with care in the opening stages against tight pace bowling. Yorkshire were without Adil Rashid and Liam Plunkett who are both on one-day international duty with England as are Middlesex's Eoin Morgan and Steven Finn.
Ryan Sidebottom had hoped to make his return following a calf injury but he pulled up during the pre-match practice session and Will Rhodes took his place while off-spinner, James Middlebrook, was also omitted.
Tim Bresnan and Brooks were on the mark with the new ball and in his second over Brooks beat Joe Burns and pinned him lbw flush in front of his stumps. With Steven Patterson also hitting the spot, runs were hard to come by but Robson profited with some well-controlled shots through mid-wicket which brought him four boundaries.
Compton, however, was much more subdued. He moved into double figures with his first boundary off his 28th delivery and it was a further 26 balls before he scored again, pulling Rhodes for four and steering him to the rope in the same over. The score had moved on to 68-1 when Brooks returned for a spell at the Kirkstall Lane end and his first ball nipped back to hit the top of Robson's middle and off stumps. The opener departed for 41 off 82 balls, bringing in Dawid Malan who had reached nine at lunch when Compton had moved on to 25.
