RYAN Sidebottom took seven wickets in a first-class innings for the second time in his career as Yorkshire claimed the initiative at the halfway stage of their LV= County Championship match against Middlesex at Scarborough.

Sidebottom's 7-44 from 17 overs was the main reason why Middlesex, in reply to 253, were bowled out for 232 in 67.

That left Yorkshire with 13 overs of batting to do in their second innings before the close and they built on their 21-run lead by reaching 29-1.

First-innings centurion Adam Lyth fell to Tim Murtagh, caught at second slip.

Yorkshire should have been in a far better position than they are because Sidebottom's first three wickets, coming either side of lunch, blew Middlesex's top order away as they slipped to 11-4 in the early stages of the afternoon.

But a fine 110 from wicketkeeper Jon Simpson and 78 by fellow left-hander Dawid Malan put the game back in the balance.

The pair shared a stand of 168 in 43 overs for the fifth wicket through the majority of the afternoon and into the evening.

Jonny Bairstow will be mighty frustrated that he let slip a regulation chance behind the stumps with Malan on seven just after lunch. The score was 11-3 at the time.

Having looked in danger of not reaching the follow-on target of 104 as Sidebottom got extravagant swing, the visitors were now eyeing a first-innings lead.

Thankfully from Yorkshire's point of view, Sidebottom returned from the Trafalgar Square End – he had his early success from the Peasholm Park End – to tip the balance back in their favour.

Having earlier got Chris Rogers and Eoin Morgan caught behind for ducks, and Paul Stirling caught at third slip, he had Malan, Toby Roland-Jones and Murtagh caught at second slip by Lyth and trapped Ollie Rayner lbw.

Middlesex being 11-4 was not the only dominant position Yorkshire let slip because, after Lyth hit 117 and became the first Division One batsman to post 1,000 runs this season on the first day, they fell from 177-2 to lose their last eight wickets for 76.

The last four of those went on the second morning for 19 in conditions which favoured the bowlers.