YORKSHIRE returned a champion performance with the ball to gain control of their four-day friendly against the MCC in Abu Dhabi, with debutant Will Rhodes starring.

The White Rose county enjoyed a productive first day of the season by taking five wickets during a particularly impressive afternoon session at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium as the MCC slipped from 160-3 to 196-8.

They were eventually bowled out for 221 early in the evening session before Yorkshire reached the close at 82-2 from 26 overs, with Adam Lyth looking in fine fettle against the pink ball after scoring 53 not out off 82 balls.

All-rounder Rhodes, 20, was one of four bowlers to take two wickets, with new-ball pair Ryan Sidebottom and Jack Brooks also doing so as well as Adil Rashid.

Sidebottom gave Yorkshire, invited to field first, the perfect start when he had Nick Compton caught behind off the first ball of the season, before Rhodes later trapped Daryl Mitchell and Graham Onions lbw on the way to figures of 2-10 from six overs.

Mitchell made 54 off 81 balls and James Hildreth of Somerset 89 off 118, including 15 fours.

This pair shared 79 for the fourth wicket either side of lunch before Hildreth was the first of the five afternoon wickets just as the floodlights were taking effect around 6pm local time.

Brooks took his two wickets in the 55th over of the innings to really put the MCC on the back foot at 186-7. He bowled Sam Billings, who shouldered arms, and got Chris Rushworth caught behind.

Lyth matched Hildreth for fluency at the crease and returns on day two with nightwatchman Steve Patterson for company following the departures of Alex Lees and Jack Leaning.

They were caught behind off Matt Dunn and caught at slip off Zafar Ansari respectively.