County Championship: Alex Lees leads Yorkshire fightback

Alex Lees was a member of the England Lions tour party in South Africa over the winter

Yorkshire opener Alex Lees hit his first century of the summer as the defending champions made a solid reply against Notts at Trent Bridge.

The home side were all out for 428 during the morning, with Alex Hales adding 14 to his overnight score before falling to Steve Patterson for 236.

Notts paid the price for fielding lapses as Lees and Cheteshwar Pujara (57) shared a stand of 116.

Lees made exactly 100, but was caught behind as Yorkshire closed on 226-3.

He had been dropped on 59 and 87, with Samit Patel the culprit on both occasions, failing to hold a difficult low slip chance off Vernon Philander and later spilling a catch of his own bowling.

But wicketkeeper Chris Read completed his 850th dismissal for Notts when winter signing Will Gidman found the edge of Lees' bat, soon after he reached his century off 223 balls, with 11 fours, with Yorkshire still 202 runs in arrears at stumps.

Lees and Will Rhodes (41) had launched Yorkshire's innings with a 66-run opening partnership, and India Test player Pujara then showed glimpses of his true form before clipping a catch to substitute fielder Ben Kitt at mid-wicket off Patel's left-arm spin.

Earlier in the day, Patterson, who bowled Hales for figures of 3-78, Jack Brooks (3-99) and Tim Bresnan claimed a wicket each as Notts were only able to add 35 to their overnight 393-7.

Notts captain Chris Read:

"(On day one) Runs were hard to come by as Yorkshire bowled very well. Ideally we'd have liked 450, but we've still managed to put a good score on the board.

"We've put down a few chances, so we've not helped ourselves, but the Yorkshire top order applied themselves very well.

"We've got to look at (tomorrow morning) now with that second new ball and see what we can do with it."

Yorkshire pace bowler Jack Brooks:

"We had a bit of meeting as a group and knew that we needed to be better and to stay positive.

"We knew if we bowled really well in the first half an hour, or 45 minutes, we'd be confident of knocking them over and that's what we managed to do.

"And then the key was there with the batting, just get past the new ball and bat for as long as possible, so us bowlers can get our feet up."