Leaders Yorkshire made to suffer

LV County Championship D1, Headingley Carnegie, day one (close): Yorkshire 203-8 v Surrey

Scorecard

County Championship leaders Yorkshire struggled against pace and spin to close on 203-8 against Surrey in a day curtailed by bad light and rain.

The hosts were struggling on 75-4 after Matthew Nicholson and Rikki Clarke took two wickets apiece in a lively start.

Anthony McGrath started to repair the damage, first with Gerard Brophy (22) and then Adil Rashid (42 not out).

McGrath fell to Harbhajan Singh for a fluent 72 and Harbhajan quickly cleaned up Tim Bresnan and Jason Gillespie too.

McGrath's innings saved Yorkshire from a dismal total, and all that after they had won the toss and decided to bat on an overcast morning.

Nicholson soon removed both openers, knocking back Joe Sayers' leg-stump and trapping Craig White lbw.

Younus Khan played some aggressive strokes for his 29, but he failed to control a cut at Clarke and gave a simple catch to Scott Newman at point.

McGrath continued his fine form - he has now scored two centuries and four half-centuries in his last seven Championship knocks.

But Harbhajan's three wickets for one run in 24 balls put Surrey firmly in the driving seat.