JONNY Bairstow is confident of a Yorkshire fightback during the second half of their Specsavers County Championship match against Surrey at the Kia Oval.

The England wicketkeeper-batsman expects a testing third morning for the White Rose batsmen following rain through the afternoon and evening of day two.

Yorkshire will begin on 40-3 in reply to Surrey’s imposing first-innings score of 414, although Bairstow has pointed to the home side’s early struggles with the bat during Friday’s first day.

"It's done a bit with each new ball, making those periods important,” he said.

“It flattened out for them when the ball got older, and hopefully it's the same for us.

"They were 80-4 as well. We are three down and need a couple of people to stand up and make scores.

"It's under covers. They're covered sheets not aired sheets, so I'm sure there will be some moisture in it today. We need to get through that first period and go from there.”

Bairstow’s England captain Joe Root, Yorkshire’s skipper for the weekend, will begin day three unbeaten on 14 with Harry Brook for company on one.

Only 21.4 overs were possible on day, with no play beyond 12.50pm and the day abandoned just after 4.30pm.

Yorkshire lost Alex Lees, Adam Lyth and Che Pujara cheaply after Surrey’s Ollie Pope had completed a career-best 158 not out as the hosts advanced their first innings from 366-7 overnight.