India discard Harbhajan Singh [Images] put Surrey in control against Yorkshire with a magical spell on the opening day of the County Championship Division One match at Headingly on Friday.

The ace off-spinner claimed three wickets for one run off 24 balls to return figures of 20-8-34-3.

Yorkshire were restricted to 203 for 8 in 63 overs in the first innings.

The Indian's scalps included Yorkshire's top-scoring batsman Anthony McGrath (72), Tim Bresnan and Jason Gillespie.

Harbhajan had picked three wickets in the team's previous match as Surrey beat Durham.

Pace spearhead Matthew Nicholson also helped Surrey's cause with a haul of 14-4-52-3 as championship leaders Yorkshire struggled against pace and spin on a day curtailed by bad light and rain.

Nicholson dismissed both openers, knocking back Joe Sayers's leg-stump and trapping Craig White leg before wicket.

For Yorkshire, Gerard Brophy (22) and Adil Rashid (42 not out) also made useful contributions after skipper Darren Gough won the toss and elected to bat on an overcast morning.