Will Fraine scored an eye-catching maiden first-class century, but Yorkshire let a position of strength slip on the way to 327 all out against Surrey during a helter-skelter opening day of their Specsavers County Championship clash at Scarborough.

Opener Fraine, 23 earlier this month, returned to his home county over the winter from Nottinghamshire, and he has only recently broken into the team in place of ex-England under 19s captain Harry Brook.

On the way to 106 off 149 balls, he shared 116 inside 27 overs for the first wicket with Adam Lyth (55), only to fall as Yorkshire slipped from 187 for one to 231 for seven during the afternoon.

All-rounder Jordan Clark did the damage and finished with five for 77 - his second career five-wicket haul - before Surrey closed on 48 without loss from 14 overs.

Last summer, Clark claimed a famous hat-trick against Yorkshire whilst playing for Lancashire as he removed Joe Root, Kane Williamson and Jonny Bairstow. That was part of his first five-for.

Here, he took advantage of some swing, bounce and some loose stroke play to turn around a day which had started with the champions erring.

The hosts lost six for 44 from mid-afternoon onwards, including four for 18, before captain Steve Patterson’s swashbuckling 46 regained some momentum after tea.

Patterson’s day started by winning Yorkshire’s 10th successive toss (discounting uncontested tosses), a post war White Rose record.

Fraine and Lyth, who hit two leg-side sixes, recorded Yorkshire’s first century opening partnership since September 2017.

Fraine, in his fourth Championship appearance for Yorkshire, pounced on anything short, particularly on the off-side, and drove strongly down the ground, hitting 19 fours in all added to a pulled six off Clark to move into the nineties.

He was not without luck as he was dropped on 31 and 102, the first of those by Dean Elgar at gully off Clark.

Lyth was the first to go before lunch when he miscued a cut at Rikki Clarke to Jamie Smith just in front of point.

After lunch, the collapse was started when Gary Ballance was caught at second slip by Scott Borthwick off Clark (187 for two after 42 overs) - the same combination which later removed Jack Leaning without scoring.

After Ballance’s departure, Tom Kohler-Cadmore played on to the same bowler almost four overs later.

Fraine was then caught behind off Morne Morkel before Clark removed Leaning, leaving Yorkshire at 205 for five in the 50th.

England Test left-arm swing bowler Sam Curran had a mixed day. He took the new ball and conceded 55 runs in his first 11 overs before leaving the field midway through his 15th over as a precaution following a recent hamstring injury. But not before he had struck twice in two balls.

At the end of the 58th and start of the 60th overs, he had David Willey caught at mid-wicket following a miscued pull and bowled South African overseas spinner Keshav Maharaj with a full toss for a golden duck on debut - 231 for seven.

Clark had Jonny Tattersall caught behind down leg as Yorkshire fell to 250 for eight in the 66th, only for Patterson and Ben Coad (25) to swing the pendulum again.

Coad hit five fours before skewing Morkel to point, leaving the score at 295 for nine in the 71st. Patterson carved nine fours in all before Clark had him caught at first slip to wrap up the innings in the 80th over.

Mark Stoneman closed on 28 for Surrey and Elgar 14 not out.

Yorkshire’s Will Fraine: "What a day. It’s nice to get that monkey off my back. It was awesome being out there. It’s a very proud day for myself and my family. I’ve been feeling good this year. I’ve been scoring well in the seconds and have felt good in the previous couple of games in the first team. I just haven’t kicked on after a couple of nice starts. Lythy is a top class player and has been a great servant for the club. He makes my life easier. He is a very calming influence. We gel quite well. Surrey are the champions and have a very good attack, so it’s nice to do it against them. This is my fifth county game and my third against Surrey. I keep playing against them and Morne Morkel. I’m like, ‘Go away’ because he’s so good. But it was nice to get one up on him. It is frustrating (to lose the wickets), but it’s cricket. We’re playing against high quality opposition, and you’re going to play a poor shot here and there or get a good ball. But I think we’re in a good spot with our attack and runs on the board. As long as we sit in and be patient, I’m sure we’ll end up with a lead."

Surrey’s Jordan Clark: "From when they were 180 odd for one, to turn it around and bowl them out for 327, it’s been a pretty good day for the lads. We spoke it about, and we felt we weren’t good for long periods of time this morning. It’s a good pitch, but it was quite slow this morning. It’s a fast outfield, so it was quite hard to contain them at three an over. But Dean Elgar and Mark Stoneman also had a great little partnership at the end there, so I think we’re in a good position. I’m really happy with my five wickets. I’d like to be a little bit more consistent now. It just seems to keep happening for me against Yorkshire!"

TEA REPORT

Will Fraine posted a maiden first-class century, but he was one four afternoon wickets to fall for only 18 runs - and six in all - as Surrey fought their way back into the Specsavers County Championship clash at Scarborough.

Fraine, 60 not out at lunch having shared a century opening stand with Adam Lyth, moved through to three figures off 132 balls, earlier going into the nineties with a pulled six off Jordan Clark.

But it was Clark, with his seamers, who instigated a collapse which has significantly boosted Surrey’s spirits, with Yorkshire slipping from 187 for one to 205 for five. The hosts later reached tea at 246 for seven from 64 overs.

Gary Ballance was the first of the four afternoon wickets, caught at second slip by Scott Borthwick off a swinging Clark delivery for 23 - 187 for two after 42 overs. Tom Kohler-Cadmore then played on to the same bowler almost four overs later.

Fraine was then caught behind for 106 off 149 balls off Morne Morkel before Clark had Jack Leaning caught at second slip by Borthwick as the score fell to 205 for five in the 50th.

Sam Curran then struck twice in two balls at the end of the 58th and start of the 60th overs as Yorkshire fell further to 231 for seven - David Willey was caught at mid-wicket following a miscued pull and South African overseas spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled by a full toss for a golden duck.

But the England Test bowler left the field having bowled only three more balls, seemingly as a precaution to protect his recent hamstring injury. Earlier, Curran conceded 55 from his first 11 overs.

LUNCH REPORT

Adam Lyth and Will Fraine shared Yorkshire’s first century opening stand since September 2017 as Surrey were put on the back foot during the opening morning at Scarborough.

Yorkshire have the early initiative in this Specsavers County Championship fixture which saw them win the toss this morning, reaching lunch on 130 for one from 29 overs.

Lyth took the lead role in taking advantage of an off-colour Surrey attack, hitting two leg-side sixes, one clipped off Rikki Clarke and the other slog-swept off Gareth Batty’s off-spin, in 55.

But he fell caught just in front of point cutting at a short and wide ball from Clarke shortly before lunch, leaving the score at 116 for one in the 27th.

Lyth reached 50 off 61 balls before ex-Nottinghamshire and Durham MCC Universities batsman Fraine brought up his maiden half-century off 89 balls shortly before the wicket. He will begin the afternoon on 60.

Surrey, missing captain Rory Burns through illness, have been wayward - both in line and length - on a pitch which seems to be a touch slower than usual North Marine Road surfaces.

Fraine was dropped at gully by Dean Elgar on 31 off Jordan Clark. In all, the hosts have hit 19 fours and two sixes.

Yorkshire’s last century opening stand came against Surrey at the Oval in a high-scoring draw towards the end of the season before last, with Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Shaun Marsh sharing 162.

Gary Ballance is unbeaten on four.

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