Yorkshire emerged with the upper hand after a closely contested opening day against Division Two leaders Sussex at Scarborough.
Despite holding a 27-point lead over third-placed Yorkshire, Sussex struggled to 187-9 from 72 overs by the end of the day. Left-handers Daniel Hughes and Tom Alsop provided some resistance, with Hughes scoring 53 and Alsop remaining unbeaten on 84.
The day also featured brief appearances from two England players, Jonny Bairstow and Ollie Robinson, both aiming to revive their Test careers. Bairstow, making his first county appearance of the season, took up wicket keeping duties for Yorkshire and performed tidily. Meanwhile, Sussex paceman Robinson, who came in late, managed only two runs from seven balls before play was halted due to bad light at 18:15 BST.
The morning session saw limited action due to rain, allowing only four overs. Sussex found themselves in early trouble at 14-2, with Matthew Revis leading the charge for Yorkshire, claiming three wickets with his seam bowling.
Australian opener Hughes, who has made an impressive start with Sussex and recently signed on to return for most of 2025, drove the first ball of the match from Ben Coad through the covers after Jonny Tattersall opted to bowl. However, after reaching his half-century off 85 balls and forming a 61-run partnership with Alsop for the third wicket, Hughes was dismissed by Coad two balls later, driving to cover.
Alsop, like Hughes, has committed his future to Sussex by signing a long-term contract. He was strong on the drive but displayed more patience than Hughes, especially after surviving a scare on nine when Fin Bean dropped a catch at third slip off Revis. Alsop's determination to capitalise on that reprieve was evident as he anchored Sussex's innings on a challenging day.
Yorkshire secured three points from their efforts, while Sussex ended the day empty-handed, setting the stage for a tense battle as the match progresses.