Yorkshire made a flying start against the searing pace of Pakistan Test ace Shoaib Akhtar and England speedster Steve Harmison in the Championship clash with Durham at Riverside.

But when Matthew Wood and New Zealander Stephen Fleming had put on 28 together, Fleming fell to a return catch by Harmison as the left-hander tried to fend off an awkward bouncer.

With just 11 runs added Wood soon followed him back to the pavilion again falling to Harmison.

Anthony McGrath celebrated his return to the Yorkshire side by winning the toss on a glorious morning and although he decided to take first knock on a good batting track he knew that life would not be easy early on against such a formidable pair of fast bowlers.

The opening exchanges were watched with interest by Darren Gough who appreciates that he needs to pick up wickets as well as keep fit in this game if he is to convince England that he is up to scratch for the forthcoming Test series against South Africa.

Shoaib, the world's fastest bowler, sent down the first over but there was far more incident in the next over from Harmison.

His first ball went off the inside edge of Fleming's bat just past his leg stump and his second was clipped to the square leg-boundary by Wood who leaned nicely into his shot.

Hamison replied by rapping Wood on the right hand and the batsman had to be alert again when Shoaib whizzed one past his nose end.

The score mounted as Fleming leg-glanced Harmison for four and four leg byes followed before Harmison square drove Harmison to the fence to make Yorkshire 24 in six overs.

A vicious ball from Akhtar split the thumb on Wood's left glove and he had to send for another pair. When he resumed he cut Akhtar savagely to gully.

It was thrill-a-minute stuff and there was drama about Fleming's dismissal by Harmison, the short ball appearing to lob in the air off glove and helmet with Harmison charging down the pitch to take the catch when almost up to the batsman.

Fleming left the field looking slightly stunned and McGrath had not been in long when Wood played Harmison to Nicky Peng at short leg and was out for 18.

Updated: 14:22 Tuesday, July 15, 2003