Yorkshire were forced to battle hard by Surrey's keen attack after they had been put in to bat at Headingley on the first day of their defence of the County Championship and with 30 overs gone they had struggled to 57 for three.

An excellent crowd approaching 4,000 basked in warm April sunshine but they were forced to watch Yorkshire make hard work of run-scoring.

Matthew Wood and Scott Richardson had to exercise every care against the formidable new ball attack of Martin Bicknell and Tudor and runs were at a premium.

Yorkshire omitted England off-spinner Richard Dawson from their line-up which meant they fielded the same side which on Monday overpowered Bradford-Leeds Universities by an innings and 61 runs.

Surrey, never short on self-belief, were brimming with confidence after getting their campaign of to a great start with a ten wicket win against Surrey at The Oval.

Although not yet involved in the action, it was a red letter day for wicketkeeper-batsman Richard Blakey who was yesterday appointed Yorkshire vice-captain.

Bicknell began from the rugby end with a maiden to Wood and it was the tenth delivery before the first run came when Richardson acquired a single off an inside edge against Tudor.

Richardson was settling in quite well but in the sixth over he lost Wood who drove loosely at Tudor for Bicknell to hold on to a splendid one-handed catch.

Michael Lumb eventually registered the first boundary of the match in the 15th over with a firm off-drive against Bicknell.

Lumb was looking the part but just when the second wicket pair had settled in nicely, Richardson was out for 16, steering Ashar Mahmood to Mark Butcher at second slip.

New captain Darren Lehmann was straight off the mark with a beautifully controlled shot through extra cover for three but then Lumb misjudged a legside shot off a ball from Tudor to sky a catch to Alec Stewart.

Updated: 15:43 Wednesday, April 24, 2002