MATTHEW Hoggard, without a wicket for over a fortnight, struck an early blow for Yorkshire after County Champions Surrey had chosen to bat first on winning the toss at The Oval today.

But Surrey then recovered with a second wicket stand between Ian Ward and Nadeem Shahid which moved them to 66 in 25 overs before Shahid was yorked by Ryan Sidebottom.

The game was a crunch one as Surrey led the first division table by five points going into the match - but Yorkshire had a game in hand.

Mark Butcher had made all five of Surrey's runs when he made thin contact with a leg-glance at Hoggard and Richard Blakey took the catch.

Just before the wicket fell, Hoggard and Silverwood had each bowled two consecutive maidens and Hoggard came close to gaining another success when Shahid survived a confident shout for lbw.

Silverwood was unable to maintain his accuracy, however, and Shahid collected a couple of boundaries in one over by steering him to the vacant third man and getting on the front foot to crash him through extra cover.

It was the tenth over before Ward scored his first runs by off driving Hoggard to the fence and with the score beginning to mount steadily, Ryan Sidebottom replaced Silverwood and began with a maiden.

Shahid was quickly into his shots and he hooked Hoggard smartly for four before England's newest bowler was rested and Silverwood returned for a second spell. At 56 for one in 23 overs, Gary Fellows was given a bowl for the first time since the opening match of the season when he sent down four overs. Fellows replaced the injured Gavin Hamilton and was prefered to left-arm spinner Ian Fisher.

Young opening batsman Simon Widdup found he was not needed today after making an emergency dash to join Yorkshire in their team hotel in London last night.

Widdup, who made his first team debut in the Roses match a fortnight ago, was called up after Yorkshire learned that England were considering drafting in Michael Vaughan for the triangular series of internationals. But Vaughan was told by England this morning that he could stay with Yorkshire after all.

TODAY'S CRICKET

ppp Healthcare County Championship

(Day 1 of 4)

Division One

Surrey v Yorkshire

at The Foster's Oval

Surrey First Innings

Butcher c Blakey b Hoggard 5

Ward not out 0

Shahid b Sidebottom 36

A Hollioake not out 2

Extras 6

Total 2 wkt (29 overs) 74

Fall: 1-5 2-66

Derby: Derbyshire 72-4 (29ov) v Kent

Leicester: Leicestershire 77-4(30.2ov) v Durham

Taunton: Lancashire 99-3 (26ov M Atherton 53no) v Somerset

Division Two

Cheltenham: Northamptonshire104-0 (31ov) v Gloucestershire

Southgate: Middlesex 62-4 (22ov) v Glamorgan

Arundel: Sussex 90-4 (29ov) v Essex

Worcester: Worcestershire 81-0 (33.5ov) v Nottinghamshire

Tour match

Portsmouth: Hampshire 74-3 (25 overs) v New Zealand 'A'

Varsity match

Lord's: Cambridge Univ 198-2 (71ov) v Oxford Univ. 2nd day of 3.