Tea Report: Yorkshire 194-5 (64 overs) v Lancashire

Tea on the first day (Lancashire won toss)

Lancashire have fought back here, to the extent that in a fascinating contest you would probably say that they are just about in front.

At 90-2 at lunch, Yorkshire would have felt that they had the edge and Anthony McGrath looked to be in the mood to make it a profitable afternoon for the home side when he cracked the fourth ball of the second session through square cover for four. But Saj Mahmood, back for a second burst at the Kirkstall Lane end, produced a peach of a delivery next ball, finding the edge with a late away-swinger that squared the batsman up as he tried to defend. Wicketkeeper Luke Sutton - stand-in captain with Stuart Law absent because of a broken finger -took the catch.

The balance tipped again in Yorkshire's favour, however, after Andrew Gale joined Jacques Rudolph in the middle, the pair putting on 77 in 24 overs with Rudolph looking in excellent fettle. He seemed to be in total command when Mahmood gave way to Oliver Newby, completing his half-century off 108 balls with six fours, then stepping up another gear against Steven Croft, whom he hooked for six and punished again with two cracking off-side fours.

But just as he appeared set for a big one, Rudolph was undone on 66, caught behind off a faint edge as he pushed forward at Croft. And that was part one of a double breakthrough for Lancashire, Gale soon succumbing for 32 to a miscued cut off spinner Gary Keedy, the ball looping gently to Mal Loye at point.