RYAN Sidebottom bowled Yorkshire to back-to-back LV= County Championship titles during a hectic opening day of their clash with Middlesex at Lord's.

The veteran seamer took a brilliant 5-18 from 12 overs, including the 700th wicket of his first-class career, as the hosts were bowled out for just 106 inside 33 overs.

Coupled with Nottinghamshire's failure to get maximum batting points in their Division One clash with Durham at Trent Bridge, that meant the White Rose county were champions again.

Andrew Gale had become the first Yorkshire captain since Brian Close in 1968 to retain the Championship crown, while Sidebottom had won his fifth career four-day title – including three with his home county.

An amazing 19 wickets fell during the day, with four overs lost to bad light.

Yorkshire will resume on 238-9 from 57 overs, an innings underpinned by a superb 98 off 110 balls from captain Gale.

The day had started in spectacular fashion after Gale won the toss, with Sidebottom returning a triple-wicket maiden in the very first over.

"It's always nice to contribute – but you don't expect to get off to starts like that," said the 37-year-old left-armer.

"I started off knowing that I needed one for 700 and that was in the back of my mind.

"But to take three wickets in the opening over – wow! I even surprised myself. It was just one of those dream mornings and dream starts.

"You know at Lord's that the ball will seam and swing around. It was overcast and just a case of getting the ball pitched.

"To get 700 and help us win the Championship, it means a great deal. It was a special day.

"To win it five times, I'm very fortunate as an individual. I play with a great bunch of lads and a great group of players.

"We've been really focused this year and it's been a wonderful team effort. We've played 21 players out of our staff and it's been commendable what we've done."

Sidebottom will return to the crease as last man looking to build on Yorkshire's 132-lead.