Yorkshire’s bowlers enjoyed a productive day at the office - particularly before tea - as they had the better of proceedings against Lancashire at Emerald Headingley.

An eight-man White Rose attack, including fledgling quick Dom Leech, undermined Lancashire’s chances of getting close to the hosts’ opening day 337-5.

At tea, the Red Rose were 117-5 although recovered to close out the game on 223-5 from 86 overs through unbroken sixth-wicket century pair Danny Lamb and George Balderson.

Lamb led the way with an unbeaten 76.

Matthew Waite claimed 2-41 from 13 overs, while Ben Coad, Matthew Fisher and off-spinner Jack Shutt all struck once apiece.

Even though Yorkshire made the running across both days on a good Headingley pitch, Lancashire will also be happy with their workout given the intensity created in this opening fixture of the shortened summer.

Fisher made the perfect start to his campaign by getting Alex Davies caught behind for a golden duck with his first ball at the start of the second over, leaving the score at 0-1.

Keaton Jennings (37) and Josh Bohannon shared 57 inside in 22 overs to steady before the former got a leading edge off Waite - playing back - to third slip, where Harry Brook took the catch.

There was only time for one more run to be added before lunch.

Yorkshire enjoyed themselves during the afternoon, claiming three wickets, with Waite doing his chances of four-day selection against Durham next weekend no harm.

Rob Jones was the first afternoon wicket to fall as Waite struck for the second time, getting him caught behind for two to leave the visitors 69-3 in the 30th over.

Bohannon was the second, lbw to Coad for 46 (89-4 in the 39th).

Off-spinner Shutt - 1-43 from 19 - then claimed the prized scalp of Lancashire captain Dane Vilas (18), stumped down the leg-side by Jonny Tattersall. At that stage, the visitors were 107-5 after 47 overs, shortly before tea.

Like Waite, Shutt also seems to be right in contention to start the Bob Willis Trophy, with coach Andrew Gale confirming he will be playing a spinner in his team.

Nineteen-year-old Leech, a tall quick on a rookie contract with the club, was not in Yorkshire’s original team for this fixture, but fielded during the first two sessions and was given a chance to bowl four overs after tea.

All-rounders Lamb and Balderson, the latter last winter’s England Under 19s captain, then steadied Lancashire and moved them beyond 200 without further damage.

Lamb reached an 86-ball fifty before Leech came into the attack with the Red Rose 188-5 after 72 overs. Balderson finished unbeaten on 42, the pair sharing 116 in 39 overs.

Play started 20 minutes late due to rain, meaning four overs were lost from the day’s allotted 90.

It was also confirmed that the ball does now not need to be sanitised every six overs, which happened during the first day.

Yorkshire coach Andrew Gale was delighted by what he saw from his team, admitting: “They look ready.”

“It’s been good,” said Gale.

“I expected it to be intense because we are a week away from the season, so it has to be. And there’s competition for places.

“I wanted the lads to make sure the intensity was as near to first-class cricket as it could be, and it has been.

“What we’ve seen from Yorkshire is that we look well drilled and ready, which is what we’ve put our efforts in for over the last five weeks.

“Some of the lads were flagging a bit at tea, saying, ‘I’d forgotten how long a day in the dirt was!’ But they look ready. 

“Usually in the pre-season games against the Universities,  we’ve looked a bit shellshocked. But we haven’t looked like that.

“It’s been encouraging. It’s a pre-season game, but there’s been lots of positives.”

These two sides will meet again here in the fourth round of the competitive four-day action, starting on Saturday August 22.