YORKSHIRE returned a champion performance with the ball to gain control of their four-day friendly against the MCC in Abu Dhabi, with first-class debutant Will Rhodes starring.

The White Rose county enjoyed a productive first day of the season by taking five wickets during a particularly impressive afternoon session at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium as the MCC slipped from 160-3 to 196-8.

They were eventually bowled out for 221 early in the evening session before Yorkshire reached close at 82-2 from 26 overs, with Adam Lyth looking in fine fettle against the pink ball for 53 not out off 82 balls.

Stamford Bridge all-rounder Rhodes, 20, was one of four bowlers to take two wickets, with new ball pair Ryan Sidebottom and Jack Brooks doing so as well as Adil Rashid.

Sidebottom gave Yorkshire, invited to field first, the perfect start when he had Nick Compton caught behind with the first ball of the season before Rhodes later trapped Daryl Mitchell and Graham Onions lbw on the way to figures of 2-10 from six overs.

“It went really for us,” said Rhodes, who last year captained England under-19s on this ground during their successful one-day World Cup campaign, in which they reached the semi-finals.

“Ryan set the tone early doors and Patto, Brez and Brooksy chipped in around him. To bowl them out for 220 is something we’d have taken at the start of the day.

“I thought I’d have to wait a bit longer to be a part of my first wicket celebration, but to get it first ball was fantastic, and it just shows what a quality bowler Ryan is to put it on the spot straightaway.

“I don’t know whether my two wickets seamed or anything. I just tried to bowl it down there as quick as I could and hit a hard length. Thankfully, the finger went up both times.”

Mitchell made 54 off 81 balls and Somerset’s James Hildreth 89 off 118, including 15 fours.

The pair shared 79 for the fourth wicket either side of lunch before Hildreth was the first of the five afternoon wickets just as the floodlights were taking effect around 6pm local time.

Brooks took his two wickets in the 55th over of the innings to really put the MCC on the back foot at 186-7. He bowled Sam Billings, who shouldered arms, and got Chris Rushworth caught behind.

Lyth matched Hildreth for fluency at the crease and returns tomorrow with nightwatchman Patterson for company following the departures of Alex Lees and Jack Leaning, caught behind off Matt Dunn and caught at slip off Zafar Ansari respectively.

Rhodes was told that he was debuting in this match at training on Saturday evening by Jason Gillespie, and he added: “It is something that I am really proud of, and it was a moment that will stay with me for the rest of my life.

“I couldn’t wait to till my older brother, who was really proud too. It was great of him to pass on a really nice message.”

Yorkshire’s task with the bat seems to have been made easier with the fact that Durham quick Graham Onions left the field five balls into his fourth over last night with a groin injury.

The likelihood of him taking any further part in the game will become clearer tomorrow when he is reassessed by the MCC medics.