Yorkshire Cricket by David Warner

A devastating opening spell of fast bowling from Devon Malcolm destroyed Yorkshire's early batting after they had won the toss against Northamptonshire on an overcast and chilly morning.

With the game less than 22 overs old, Yorkshire had slumped to 53 for six and they continued to experience all sorts of difficulties.

Malcolm, in his third championship match for Northants since joining them from Derbyshire at the beginning of the season, claimed four wickets for ten runs in a 24-ball spell and only narrowly failed to achieve the hat-trick.

It was a dreadful start for the championship leaders and with the ball moving around off the seam and through the air, Yorkshire skipper David Byas was left wondering if it was the right decision to bat first.

Malcolm, bowling from the football end, struck with his third delivery of the day which rattled the stumps of Anthony McGrath who was beaten for pace as the ball nipped back.

Franklyn Rose shared the new ball but it was Malcolm who caused all the problems although he gave away the first boundary when Michael Vaughan guided him over the top of the slips.

Vaughan did most of the scoring while Byas settled in quietly but Malcolm was not long in making a double strike with two lbw decisions off consecutive balls.

Byas was the first to go after umpire John Steele had taken a long time to raise his finger and then newcomer Matthew Wood was trapped plumb in front of his stumps.

It was down to earth with a bang for Wood who had begun his championship career with a half-century and a century in consecutive matches.

Darren Lehmann came in to face up to the hat-trick ball and the Australian was forced into playing a shot outside off-stump and only narrowly failed to make contact.

There was no respite for Yorkshire from Malcolm who took his third wicket in six balls as Vaughan was unable to keep down his drive and captain Kevin Curran moved in from short extra cover to hold the catch.

Yorkshire were desperately in need of another classic innings from Lehmann and he square drove Malcolm for four before the ex-England man let loose an erratic wide outside off stump.

Lehmann and Craig White saw the first bowling change at 38 for four after an hour's play when Rose was rested with figures of 6-1-16-0 and replaced by left-arm paceman Paul Taylor who struck with the last ball of his first over which Lehmann edged tamely to second slip where it was caught low down by Rob Bailey.

Malcolm kept on going for a ninth over and struck again by bowling Richard Blakey, who had failed to score after batting for five overs.Malcolm at this stage had figures which read 9.1-2-25-5.

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