YORKSHIRE struck three times during a rain-affected opening afternoon against Warwickshire at Edgbaston to ensure they retain the upper hand despite a fightback from the hosts.

Warwickshire were reduced to 77-7 thanks to wickets for Steve Patterson and Ben Coad, who now has a four-for, but they reached tea at 152-8 in the 49th over.

Rain brought about a 40-minute delay from 2.30pm before the umpires called an early interval following another interruption at 3.30pm.

Patterson struck with the seventh ball of the afternoon when he forced Tim Ambrose into a loose drive and saw him edge behind as the score slipped to 73-6 in the 31st over.

Coad then claimed his fourth wicket of the day as Rikki Clarke was trapped lbw in the 34th.

New Zealand off-spinner Jeetan Patel and Keith Barker shared 53 inside ten overs for the eighth wicket either side of the first of two rain delays, with Patel dropped on 14 in the slips off Coad on the way to 36.

Play was halted for 40 minutes from 2.30pm before Patel was bowled by an Adil Rashid googly in his first over, the 43rd, to leave the score at 130-8.

Barker reached tea at 33 not out and Chris Wright was eight not out.