Yorkshire and Warwickshire played out a fascinating, action-packed opening day of their Rothesay County Championship clash in bowler-friendly conditions at Headingley, with both jostling for position.
The home side, inserted on a grassy pitch, were bowled out for 205 inside 53 overs on the stroke of tea. Jonny Bairstow top-scored with 47 at the start of his 100th career Championship appearance, while new-ball seamer Ethan Bamber claimed 5-47 from 15.2 overs for Warwickshire.
It was the former Middlesex man’s first five-for since moving from Lord’s in the winter. His haul included England’s Harry Brook caught in the deep for 33 just after lunch, while all-rounder Ed Barnard had a good day for the visitors.
His seam accounted for three wickets, including Joe Root for one and Bairstow, before he contributed 41 to a close of play score of 161-6 from 43 overs.
For Yorkshire, New Zealand overseas fast bowler Ben Sears enjoyed a good day. He contributed 28 down the order and two wickets, while Ben Coad struck twice added to one wicket apiece for Australian debutant seamer Jordan Buckingham and George Hill.
In bowler-friendly conditions, albeit under a sunny Leeds sky, both sides enjoyed periods of success as movement, pace and bounce were the features of this pitch.
Picture by Dave Williams/cricketphotos.co.uk. Jonny Bairstow en-route to an opening day 47 at Headingley today.
The two counties started the day separated by only six points in the table after three matches; Warwickshire with 46 points following two draws and a win, Yorkshire with 40 following a loss, win and a draw.
Having seen the pitch first thing this morning, it was no surprise when Alex Davies elected to bowl first. And that decision reaped early reward, with the Bears striking four times in the morning.
Bamber set the tone impressively for Warwickshire, for whom wicketkeeper Kai Smith took five catches.
Smith had actually been involved in an early missed opportunity when he and Davies at first slip left a Dom Bess edge to each other and saw it fly to third-man for four.
Bess was opening the batting for Yorkshire given Fin Bean was one of those making way for the returning Root and Brook. Dawid Malan also missed out because of a groin issue.
And Bess was the first to go this morning for 16 when he got an inside-edge on a beauty of a nip-backer from Bamber, edging behind to Smith – 23-1 in the seventh over.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Impressive Ethan Bamber celebrates dismissing Yokrshire’s George Hill. Bamber claimed five wickets for Warwickshire.
Wickets fell regularly through to lunch, where Yorkshire reached at 97-4 after 28.
James Wharton was also caught behind off Bamber, this one held onto by Smith at the second attempt and between his thighs before Root found second slip off Barnard’s bowling.
But Yorkshire were 32-3 after 14 overs.
Brook made 33 before the morning was out, playing some typically eye-catching strokes through the off-side off both the front and back foot. Even then, he didn’t look entirely settled.
He had survived a huge caught behind appeal off Michael Booth and had twice advanced down the pitch looking to hit over the top without success.
Just as they had at the start of play, Warwickshire made a fast start to the afternoon, reducing Yorkshire to 105-6 inside three overs.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Harry Brook returned to county colours with 33 in Yorkshire’s 205 all out.
Brook failed to add to his 33 when miscueing an attempted uppercut off Bamber to Hamza Shaikh on the fence at third-man before Hill edged an attempted drive at the same bowler to first slip.
Bairstow and Jordan Thompson, who made an important 35, then stemmed the flow of wickets with a combative 61 partnership, the best of the innings.
Even though it was aggressive, it was by no means out and out attack. It was controlled aggression. Both drove nicely, with one straight drive from Bairstow off Barnard particularly memorable.
However, Barnard got both men as Yorkshire fell to 185-9. Thompson was caught behind before Bairstow played on. Sandwiched in between Booth had Coad caught behind.
Sears then clattered some late runs, including a heaved six over mid-wicket off Barnard, to sneak Yorkshire beyond the 200-mark before edging Bamber into the slips to wrap things up.
But the drama was by no means done.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Ben Sears hoists Ed Barnard for six in his valuable late 28. He also struck with the ball after tea.
After Davies and Rob Yates shared an opening 30, Warwickshire lost four for 17 inside eight overs to slip into bother.
Davies edged Buckingham’s new-ball seam to third slip before Yates was trapped lbw by Coad. And when Shaikh gloved pacy Sears behind as he tried to leave alone followed by Zen Malik trapped lbw by Hill next ball, the hosts were buoyant with the score at 47-4 in the 14th.
Barnard and left-handed England limited overs international Dan Mousley then steadied for the visitors, sharing 59 for the fifth wicket.
But Coad broke that partnership when he had the latter caught at second slip for 32, 106-5 after 30 overs.
Barnard was handsome on the drive and ended the day by sharing 50 for the sixth wicket with Australian Test all-rounder Beau Webster, 32 not out
However, Sears had Barnard caught at second slip just before close to give Yorkshire a significant boost. The visitors trail by 44.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jordan Buckingham (c) is congratulated after dismissing Warwickshire’s Alex Davies.
