Andrew Gale recorded his third half-century of the LV County Championship season today to build on Yorkshire's solid start against Surrey on a rain-ruined day at Headingley.

Only 13.3 overs were possible on the second day, as Gale and Chris Taylor added 30 more runs to progress the score to 80 for none in reply to Surrey's 204.

"We are definitely in the game - on top I would say," assessed Gale, who has also scored two tons this year.

"We were really disappointed to get washed out because we could have really pushed on and batted a long way past them.

"There is still a lot of time left in this game - there are six sessions of cricket. The pitch is deteriorating already and it will be tough to bat on come the last day.

"We are just going to have to take it session by session now. We need to get through the morning session (tomorrow) without losing any wickets and push past 400, then bowl them out.

"It is a good wicket, but is getting slower and lower and will spin."

Bad light originally halted play, but torrential rain had put an end to the day by mid-afternoon. Most of the outfield was covered in puddles, and groundsman Andy Foggarty will have his work cut out to get things fit for a prompt start tomorrow.

Gale and Taylor shared Yorkshire's highest opening partnership of the season when they passed 33 between Michael Vaughan and Joe Sayers against Nottinghamshire in May.

The pair, who are good friends off the field and run the Pro Coach Cricket Academy together, went on to notch the highest opening stand since May last year.

Gale, who reached his 50 off 71 balls with eight fours included, continued: "I had heard rumours that our highest opening stand was 30-something this year. There was a big cheer when it went past 32 or 33, so it made me chuckle.

"Chris and I are really good mates off the field, so it was good to bat with him. We used to open together for the second team. Hopefully we can push past 100."

Gale was dropped by Matt Nicholson at slip in the last over of the day on 53, while Taylor will hope to resume tomorrow on 23.

The 24-year-old also hailed the bowling of South African Deon Kruis, who claimed five for 47 on the opening day to set Yorkshire on their way.