Mahmood stakes his claim

Sajid Mahmood has Adam Lyth caught behind for 19

Lancashire's Sajid Mahmood took his chance to make an impression on visiting England selector Geoff Miller, but honours ended roughly even as Yorkshire dug deep at Headingley Carnegie.

Mahmood took 4-61 leading the attack, but good counter-attacking knocks from Jacques Rudolph (66) and wicketkeeper Gerard Brophy (59) ensured the home side remained in contention on 306 for seven at stumps.

Lancashire captain Luke Sutton, having learned his lesson when giving Yorkshire first use of helpful conditions in Wednesday's Friends Provident clash, won the toss and opted to field in the 246th Roses match in the competition.

And, under murky skies, Mahmood claimed two wickets in his opening spell to hand Lancashire the initiative.

In a testing first over he twice appealed loudly for lbw against Joe Sayers, although neither shout impressed umpire Peter Willey.

He was successful with the first delivery of the third over, though, removing the nervy-looking opener for a duck as he pressed half-heartedly forward.

Mahmood then had Adam Lyth, on his home championship debut, caught behind for 19 as he wafted slightly at a rising delivery outside off.

Rudolph started brightly but his eagerness to get going almost cost him during Croft's fifth over as he flashed a chance to Francois du Plessis at third slip.

A tough chance hit the deck and Rudolph cut crisply for four soon after to amplify du Plessis' disappointment.

Another Rudolph boundary, followed by two fours in three balls from the composed Anthony McGrath, saw Yorkshire pick up the pace before the cordon appealed loudly - and in vain - for a caught behind against the former off Oliver Newby.

McGrath, who ended the morning session with two driven fours off Gary Keedy, looked set to resume in similar fashion, finding the ropes in the first over after the restart off Mahmood.

Lyth and Anthony McGrath keep the scoreboard ticking over off Mahmood at Headingley Carnegie

But the 26-year-old soon exacted his revenge, with McGrath (45) edging a quicker one to Sutton to leave the hosts on 94 for three.

Dominic Cork bowled tidily and came close to taking Andrew Gale's wicket when his edge bounced agonisingly short of the slips.

That scare seemed to stir Gale and he made the most of his luck to power the ball to the ropes twice off consecutive Cork deliveries.

Although neither the pitch nor the batsmen were producing fireworks, Rudolph's half-century and the fifty partnership held the interest until the former Proteas star miscued a shortish Steven Croft ball for six over fine leg.

Two more fours came in quick succession but Croft struck when Rudolph (66) offered a third catch of the day to Sutton. Gale was not far behind, caught by Mal Loye off Keedy for 32, as Yorkshire's resistance faltered.

Number seven Adil Rashid survived a strong appeal for caught behind two balls later but his partnership with Gerard Brophy came good in the evening session.

First Brophy pierced the covers with a fine back-foot push, then struck three consecutive fours as Newby strayed in length. Rashid also found some form, twice locating the smallest of gaps behind square on the off side.

Brophy brought up a 65-ball half-century with his ninth boundary but, like Rudolph before him, succumbed when looking well set.

Mahmood, returning with the new ball, was again the wicket-taker, while catcher Sutton was also involved for the fourth time.

And the skipper took his fifth catch when Keedy made a vital late breakthrough, enticing a nick from Rashid (43) in the penultimate over.