Joe Sayers has pointed to Steven Croft's stunning catch to dismiss him as the moment that pushed the Roses match at Liverpool into Lancashire's grasp after today's opening day.

Yorkshire endured a difficult day, being bowled out for 141 before the hosts reached 56-1 from 16 overs in reply.

After Andrew Gale had lost the toss in helpful bowling conditions, the captain and Sayers had united to recover the score from 30-2 with a third-wicket partnership of 65 inside 32 overs.

Sayers had reached 53 from 147 balls, combating some tight bowling from Glen Chapple and Jimmy Anderson, when the latter cracked Anderson away towards point for what looked like his fourth boundary.

The only problem was that Croft leapt to his left and clung on to a ripper.

Yorkshire's innings unravelled from there, with former Tyke Gary Keedy and Sri Lankan all-rounder Farveez Maharoof taking four wickets apiece.

Sayers said: "Fielding is a big part of the modern game, and dismissals like that change things. It was a great catch, and one that really did alter the momentum.

"When you come off and think about your innings, you wonder whether you could have done anything differently. That was one of those occasions when I'd do exactly the same again."

The left-hander was one of three wickets to fall for 11 runs during the afternoon, with left-arm spinner Keedy bowling Gale around his legs and also getting Gary Ballance caught at silly point. Yorkshire failed to recover.

Sayers assessed: "Being bowled out for a low score and conceding too many runs in the evening represents a tough day. It makes the second day a pivotal one."

Despite Steve Patterson getting Stephen Moore lbw in the fifth over of Lancashire's innings, Paul Horton was allowed to reach 39 not out too easily.

Gerard Brophy failed a fitness test on his injured right thumb, forcing Simon Guy to don the wicketkeeping gloves in a Championship match for the first time since 2007.

The start of play was delayed for 45 minutes due to rain, meaning four of the allotted 96 overs were lost.

And Lancashire started well when captain Glen Chapple trapped Adam Lyth lbw four overs in. Maharoof also removed Joe Root in identical fashion, forcing Sayers and Gale into a rearguard action.

Keedy later added the wickets of Adil Rashid and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, caught and bowled and lbw, and Maharoof bowled Guy and Moin Ashraf and trapped Patterson lbw.