Yorkshire were left hoping that the pitch inspector calls at Wantage Road today after they were skittled for 177 by Northamptonshire's two spinners on the first day of their final Championship match of the season yesterday.

Matthew Wood and Joe Sayers had little trouble in getting Yorkshire off to a solid start against the pacemen but off-spinner Jason Brown was bowling in the first hour and when he was joined by left-armer Monty Panesar the wickets began to tumble.

Panesar, who got considerable turn, finished with five for 32, while Brown sent down 34 consecutive overs and claimed five for 65.

"It's been a different sort of challenge for us today," admitted Yorkshire's director of cricket, David Byas, whose only complaint about a pitch offering turn so early in the match would be if it were treated differently to pitches that have been reported for being too seamer-friendly.

More than once in recent years Yorkshire have been visited by pitch inspectors at Scarborough when the fast bowlers have cashed in early on, and all Byas wants is fair play all round.

If 15 wickets had fallen in the day, a pitch inspector would have been forced to pay a visit today but one is still likely to appear after umpires David Constant and John Steel reported on events to Lord's at close of play.

No pitch inspector was present yesterday, apparently because the ECB did not consider it a significant match, but it is of vital importance to Yorkshire, who need eight points to collect £15,000 in prize money through finishing second in the table.

The only way they can now pick up sufficient points is to go on and win the match because a draw and three bowling bonus points would give them only seven points.

Wood and Sayers had put on 66 together when Wood attempted to hit Panesar over the top and was caught by Rob White at mid-off for 30. Sayers soon followed for 32, lbw sweeping at Brown.

Panesar quickly accounted for Michael Lumb and Ian Harvey to give him three wickets for three runs in 21 balls and it became 102 for five after lunch when Brown had Anthony McGrath snapped up at silly point.

Fortunately for Yorkshire, captain Craig White played both spinners with cool composure and Tim Bresnan batted sensibly as 44 runs were squeezed out of 24 overs before Bresnan got a shooter from Brown and was lbw.

The rest of the batsmen were all at sea but White reached his 50 shortly before tea off 133 balls with nine fours. He had not added to his 51 after the interval when he was out to a colourful dismissal, caught at mid-off by Rob White off Brown.

Northants were soon in trouble themselves during a fine opening spell from Deon Kruis, who bowled Bilal Shafayat to capture his 60th Championship wicket of the season and then saw Lumb leap up at point to hold on to Bilal Shafayat's cut.

Yorkshire wasted little time in bringing on their spinners, Mark Lawson and David Wainwright.

But Martin Love and Usman Afzaal survived until the close when each had made 29 and Northants were 98 for two.