Deon Kruis recorded his best Yorkshire bowling figures to put the Tykes in charge of their County Championship clash against basement rivals Surrey on the first day at Headingley yesterday.

The South African notched his seventh five-wicket bag for the hosts, a vitally important five for 47 from 17 overs, to help bowl the LV Division One’s bottom side out for just 204.

A day that had started with rain sweeping across the Leeds venue, wiping out 16 overs, ended with the White Rose county edging their way to 50-0 in reply.

There would be an argument that suggests the 34 year-old would not have played in this match had Matthew Hoggard and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan been fit.

But Kruis grasped his chance with both hands to light up Yorkshire’s best day in Championship cricket since they went top of the league at Somerset in early June.

The Pretorian born quick, who is in his fourth season at Yorkshire, began his haul with the prized wicket of Mark Ramprakash and ended it with the scalp of youngster Matt Spriegel.

Tim Bresnan and Adil Rashid both claimed a couple of wickets apiece.

Stand-in captain Ramprakash was bowled for just six to leave the score at 69 for two after Bresnan had earlier trapped Scott Newman lbw.

Wicketkeeper Jon Batty was the next victim for Kruis, brilliantly caught at third slip by a diving Rich Pyrah for a duck three balls later.

Usman Afzaal was next to go, trapped leg before by Kruis at 71 for four, while opener Stewart Walters at least added some plucky resistance when he pulled Pyrah for six.

But the Australian-born right-hander attempted one pull too many and was caught by Adam Lyth on the deep square leg boundary off the bowling of Bresnan for 40.

Matt Nicholson, a surprise centurion in the reverse fixture at the Oval in May, rescued things somewhat from 94 for five with 25 but he was trapped in front by Rashid.

Chris Jordan was caught by Rashid at cover and Spriegel was bowled as Kruis completed his haul with wickets in consecutive overs.

And Jade Dernbach followed, lbw to Rashid, to leave the hosts in disarray at 167 for nine.

A last-wicket partnership of 37 between Saqlain Mushtaq (22) and Pedro Collins (20) spoilt things somewhat but on the back of a run of three consecutive defeats, this was still hearty display.

Openers Andrew Gale (38no) and Chris Taylor (9) safely navigated the remaining 16 overs of the day to put the Tykes in a strong position.

It was actually Yorkshire’s highest opening stand in four-day cricket since 52 against Kent Tunbridge Wells last June.