Compton digs in as bowlers shine at Leeds

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Close, day one: Yorkshire 96-4 trail Middlesex 212 by 116 runs

Nick Compton made a gritty 70 and was the only batsman to make a real impact on a bowler-dominated first day at Headingley.

Fourteen wickets fell as the last two undefeated sides in the Championship met in Leeds.

Sam Robson’s 41 was the next best score and he and Compton helped Middlesex to 83-2, but the middle order failed as they slumped to 119-6.

Compton ground out his innings in 153 balls, sharing in useful stands with Ollie Rayner (20) and James Harris (22) to drag Middlesex’s total up to somewhere nearing respectability, with Toby Roland-Jones (11) and Tim Murtagh (17) chipping in.

Yorkshire’s England opener Adam Lyth, who made a century on his home ground against New Zealand last weekend, made just 17 as he edged Roland-Jones to slip.

Murtagh then claimed two key wickets, removing Alex Lees (11) and Gary Ballance (1), while Harris accounted for Andrew Gale to leave Yorkshire on 52-4.

However, Jonny Bairstow (25 not out) and Jack Leaning (20 not out) put on 44 in the last 12 overs of the day to leave the hosts 116 runs behind.

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