YORKSHIRE debutants Scott Richardson and John Inglis both failed to survive a hostile opening burst from West Indies pace pair Courtney Walsh and Nixon McLean on the first day of the Vodafone Challenge match at Headingley today.

And Simon Widdup, in only his third first class match, also perished early on as Yorkshire were reduced to nine for three after winning the toss. The situation deteriorated even further and they stood on 32 for four with 23 overs gone.

Yorkshire also included in their side 29-year-old fast bowler Lesroy Weekes, from Monserrat, who played a first team match for them in 1994 and has regularly helped out with the reserves.

With Yorkshire Seconds beginning a three-day match in London tomorrow Yorkshire were hard pressed to put out a reasonable side to take on the West Indies, particularly as they wanted to rest several players ahead of Friday's Roses match.

The tourists were also without many of their star names but they did include the world's leading Test wicket-taker in Walsh who has so far claimed 467 victims. This is the only first class game he will play in on the tour apart from the Tests.

Richardson last season scored two centuries with Leicestershire Seconds but when he was not retained, he was given trials by Yorkshire this year and did well enough to be put on a full contract a few weeks ago.

Yorkshire were seven without loss after five overs but in the following over from McLean the first wicket went down when Widdup was lbw for four.

Walsh was also working up a fair pace and the score was unchanged when he dug one in short and Richardson fended off the ball to Wavell Hinds at short leg. In the same over, Richard Blakey had an escape, the ball appearing just to carry to Adams at second slip but he could not hold on.

Yorkshire's situation went from bad to worse as Inglis moved across his stumps to McLean but was beaten for pace and trapped lbw.

Blakey and Harrogate's Vic Craven were involved in a desperate struggle for survival and Yorkshire were only 13 for three in 15 overs when Corey Collymore replaced McLean who had the figures of 8-5-7-1.

Walsh remained virtually unplayable at the Kirkstall Lane end and Blakey was virtually static, making just two off 41 balls in almost an hour at the crease before he nicked Collymore to wicketkeeper Wayne Phillip and Yorkshire were 26 for four at which stage Byas came in to try to halt the slump.

Yorkshire will receive £11,000 if they win this Vodafone Challenge match but there were few signs of that the West Indies continued to dominate events, Walsh finally being rested with figures of 11-8-7-1.

SCOREBOARD

Vodafone Series

Yorkshire v West Indies

at Headingley

(Day 1 of 3)

Yorkshire First Innings

Widdup lbw McLean 4

Richardson c Hinds b Walsh 3

Inglis lbw McLean 2

Blakey c Phillip b Collymore 2

Craven not out 18

Byas not out 7

Extras 4

Total 4 wkts (25.5 overs) 40

Fall: 1-7, 2-7, 3-9

To bat I D Fisher, J D Middlebrook P M Hutchison, L C Weekes, C J Elstub.

West Indies: S L Campbell, A F G Griffith, C H Gayle, W W Hinds R R Sarwan, J C Adams (Capt), M V Nagamootoo, N A M McLean W Phillip (Wkt), C D Collymore, C A Walsh.