Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan led the way as Yorkshire responded superbly to early strife on the opening day of their LV= County Championship match against Hampshire at Headingley today.

The White Rose county slipped to 6-2 and 99-5 after Andrew Gale had elected to bat on a placid pitch.

But Bairstow backed up last week’s double ton against Nottinghamshire with 83 off 130 balls and Bresnan returned from six weeks off following a hectic winter with England to reach 82 not out off 157 balls.

Yorkshire closed the day on 304-7 from 96 overs, with a third batting bonus point in the bag, and they will be the happier of the two sides.

“With the start we had, it was obviously going to be a tough day,” said Bairstow, who has been called into the England Lions squad for next week’s four-day match against Sri Lanka at Derby.

“We lost three early wickets and had to rebuild, so we’re very happy with the way it finished.”

Hampshire captain Dominic Cork was the chief architect of Yorkshire’s downfall as he bowled Adam Lyth, trapped Gerard Brophy lbw and later forced Bairstow to chop onto his stumps as he loosely drove.

There was also the odd slice of luck for the visitors, who had Joe Root (35) run out as he backed up.

Sean Ervine had Gale caught behind down the leg-side, the slippery David Griffiths trapped Joe Sayers lbw and Kabir Ali had Adil Rashid caught at second slip by James Vince.

Rashid and Bairstow shared 44 for the sixth wicket to show first signs of a home recovery early in the afternoon before Bairstow, caught off a Kabir no-ball on 60, and Bresnan shared 62 for the seventh.

And the 99 shared between Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad (42 not out) – another who will miss Wednesday’s Roses match against Lancashire at Liverpool due to Lions duty – for the eighth wicket will resume tomorrow morning.

“I’m pleased with the way I’m feeling at the moment but I’m slightly disappointed to get out the way I did,” said Bairstow, who hit 13 fours.

Bresnan’s contribution is his highest for Yorkshire since June, 2009.

And, having edged Kabir through the slips on 34, he and Shahzad both hit sixes as they took the wind out of Hampshire’s sails.