Darren Lehmann shrugged off the pain of a stiff back to stop Yorkshire from falling apart on the first day of their Championship match against Somerset at Scarborough yesterday.

The Australian left-hander rested in the pavilion until the fall of the fourth wicket at 129 and he went on to make an unbeaten 90 out of a below-par total of 296.

Somerset were 58 for one at the close and with Australia's captain, Ricky Ponting, settling in well in his first Championship match for the county, Yorkshire need to show sharper form today if they are to stay in the game.

Although Lehmann was clearly restricted in his running between the wickets he still looked a class act and his chanceless innings lasted 135 balls and included 11 fours and a six.

Last man Steve Kirby tried hard to stay with Lehmann until he had reached his second century of the season but he moved across his stumps to his ninth ball and was lbw without scoring to West Indian Nixon McLean, who finished with six for 79.

The ball swung around a little in the humid air but that was no excuse for a poor batting effort from Yorkshire after Matthew Wood had won the toss and put on 98 for the second wicket with Anthony McGrath.

The first wicket to go down was in the opening over, when Championship debutant Andrew Gale was lbw to his second ball from McLean.

Yorkshire also had two other debutants in their side in wicketkeeper Ismail Dawood and leg-spinner Mark Lawson, and although they could only manage19 between them, Dawood stroked one sweet cover boundary while Dawson opened his account with consecutive fours off McLean from a steer and a glance.

Both Wood and McGrath batted attractive and were prepared to hit the bad balls, but Somerset were sure Wood had an escape on 41 when they appealed for a catch behind off Ian Blackwell but umpired Barry Dudleston was unmoved.

Wood completed his fifth half-century in his last six Championship innings before off-spinner Keith Dutch had him caught behind for 59 from 90 balls with ten fours and a six and Yorkshire began to slide.

McGrath just missed out on his half-century by pushing forward at Dutch and being taken at second slip by Ponting and in the second over after lunch Ian Harvey played across a ball from McLean and was lbw.

The fifth wicket went down at 144 when Michael Lumb could not take his bat away from a ball from McLean which shaved the edge and Lehmann responded to the crisis by sweeping Dutch for six.

A good catch at second slip by Ponting accounted for Dawood, but Somerset were temporarily checked as Richard Dawson helped Lehmann add 53 for the seventh wicket before driving Dutch to deep mid-off.

Chris Silverwood's stand of 45 with Lehmann was also valuable, but Yorkshire's final total earned just two bonus points.

Silverwood struck an early blow for Yorkshire when Bowler edged him to Dawson at third slip but John Francis and Ponting safely played out the day's remaining overs.