Patterson takes his opportunity

Yorkshire seamer Steven Patterson cashed in with two important Sussex wickets in the LV County Championship Division One match at Scarborough before rain set in for the day shortly before tea.

They could be the only wickets he takes in the match because Tim Bresnan was released by England at Cardiff mid-afternoon and immediately travelled to the east coast seaside resort to replace Patterson in the Yorkshire side on the second day.

Winning the toss on an excellent batting track, Sussex were given a good start in blustery conditions by Chris Nash and Michael Yardy who soon saw off the new-ball attack of Matthew Hoggard and Deon Kruis.

Rana Naved-ul-Hasan also failed to make much impression but when Patterson came on he split the opening pair at 49 in the 14th over by having Yardy caught behind by wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy.

Steve Patterson made the most of his chance with two scalps

Nash calmly progressed to his half-century off 69 balls with nine fours and he and Andrew Hodd took Sussex in to lunch on a comfortable 106 for one from 31 overs.

Hodd, who hit his maiden championship century against Yorkshire at Hove last season, cut Hoggard for four and leg-glanced his next ball to the boundary but the wicketkeeper-batsman had a couple of slices of luck in the next over from Patterson.

He played him just in front of Jacques Rudolph at first slip and then bisected Rudolph and Brophy for a streaky four to third man.

Sussex were looking strong at 150 for one but Nash, who had made 78 off 125 balls with 12 fours, departed when he played Hoggard off his legs and was well caught at short midwicket by former England captain Michael Vaughan.

The most effective bowler for Yorkshire, however, was Patterson, who has played in only two previous championship games this season.

He earned his recall on the strength of eight wickets for the second XI last week in their nine-wicket victory over Sussex at Horsham.

Hodd completed his 50 off 102 balls with five fours but Patterson was rewarded with his second wicket at 195 when he nipped one back at Murray Goodwin and hit his off-stump.

Yorkshire were responding well after an indifferent start and leg-spinner Adil Rashid made his mark shortly before the rain came, Chris Adams guiding a leg-break into the safe hands of Rudolph.

Sussex closed on 203 for four, Hodd having made his way patiently to 66 and new batsman Carl Hopkinson on one.