RYAN Sidebottom marked his return to the Yorkshire fold following a three-month absence in style as the White Rose county looked to move into a winning position against Warwickshire at Headingley.

The veteran seamer has been on the sidelines since the end of April after suffering a fractured ankle in a freak football accident, but was back to his best with ball in hand as he returned figures of 3-41 to help secure a 78-run first innings lead.

The Tykes were able to increase their advantage to 156 in the evening session, but lost five wickets in doing so on a pitch that is offering assistance to all bowlers.

“It’s been a stinking three months and I’ve been pulling my hair out watching the boys, but they’ve been doing well,” Sidebottom said.

“I was in a pot for 8-9 weeks but the club has really looked after me and I’ve tried to keep myself in shape. I played the last three weeks in the seconds to get some bowling under my belt.

“We bowled really well this morning and were in the ascendancy, but now we’re going to have to battle tomorrow. The ball’s not coming on and the wicket is spinning and bouncing so it’s going to be difficult. “

Sidebottom’s effort was the stand out for Yorkshire as they bowled the visitors out for 179, with his first success coming with an inswinging delivery that trapped Varun Chopra lbw for 23.

That came sandwiched between two wickets for Jack Brooks – who was also recalled for this game having suffered an abdominal injury last month – as he dismissed Andrew Umeed and Jonathan Trott with the new ball.

Steven Patterson then accounted for Ian Bell and Tim Ambrose to leave Warwickshire 80-5 in reply to Yorkshire’s 257 before Sidebottom returned to pick up the wicket of Sam Hain (48) – his 400th for Yorkshire in first-class cricket.

“After we came off the field Dizzy (Jason Gillespie) announced it to all the lads so that nice of him,” he said of the achievement.

“It’s really nice to get milestones as a player, and with me coming towards the end of my career then it’s a great feeling.”

Keith Barker (20) and Rikki Clarke threatened to drag the Bears back into the game with a 51-run stand for the seventh wicket, but when Adil Rashid removed the former the Warwickshire lower order collapsed. Rashid finished with three wickets of his own before Sidebottom had Oliver Hannon-Dalby caught behind to end the innings and leave Clarke unbeaten on 50.

Adam Lyth (20) and Alex Lees made serene progress in an opening partnership of 43 as Yorkshire began setting a fourth innings target.

Ricki Clarke ended the day with four wickets as Lyth and Travis Head were both caught by Chopra at slip before Jack Leaning and Steven Patterson fell to successive deliveries late in the piece.

Andrew Gale fared little better as he edged Jeetan Patel to Clarke at slip for just a single, leaving Lees (39no) and Rashid to see the hosts through to stumps on 78-5.