SAJID Mahmood turned in a four-star bowling display to keep Lancashire in the hunt on the first day of their County Championship match against Yorkshire.

Mahmood, once of Astley Bridge and Egerton, claimed 4-61 from 22 overs to help reduce the Tykes to 306-7 at Headingley.

The paceman led the attack commendably on a ground where he recorded his Test match best figures of 6-130 for England against Pakistan in 2006.

And Mahmood, who was watched by England selector Geoff Miller, said: "I was thinking about the Test match before we started. Obviously I have done well here before, and I was confident that I could do well again. I quite enjoy bowling here "I am bowling a lot more consistently this season and I am hitting a lot more good areas."

The 26-year-old helped to reduce the White Rose to 0-1 and then 94-3 just after lunch by removing Joe Sayers, Adam Lyth and Anthony McGrath (45). He later got Gerard Brophy (59), while left-arm spinner Gary Keedy was excellent as he claimed 2-43 from 20 overs.

Yorkshire will perhaps be the slightly happier of the two camps going into today's second day - but only because they lost the toss on a pitch they bowled the visitors out on for just 89 two days earlier in a Friends Provident Trophy one-day game.

But they will be disappointed that top-scorer Jacques Rudolph, with an elegant 66, led a whole host of players who laid down solid platforms but failed to capitalise.

"It is quite a flat wicket, and hopefully we can get the last three wickets cheaply in the morning," added Mahmood, who also admitted that he enjoyed the responsibility of leading the attack.

Wicketkeeper, and stand-in captain, Luke Sutton was in impressive form behind the stumps to claim five catches.