Emerging opener Will Luxton skilfully posted a maiden first-class century as Yorkshire made a dominant start to their Rothesay County Championship clash with Warwickshire at sunny Scarborough.

Luxton, 23, is a North Marine Road regular. This is his 13th career Championship appearance for the White Rose and his fifth at this venue, and his 167 off 261 balls underpinned their 386 for 6 from 96 overs. He has now scored two first-team centuries, both against Warwickshire. His other – 105 not out – came in a Metro Bank One-Day Cup win at Rugby School in 2024.

Luxton, who reached his century with a slog-swept six against spin just before tea, shared first, second, fourth and fifth-wicket partnerships of 102, 90, 94 and 74 with Adam Lyth, Sam Whiteman, Matthew Revis and Jonny Bairstow. The latter trio contributed 55, 40 and 49 not out respectively.

These two counties had each won two games from six coming into this fixture and were separated by only 15 points in a tightly bunched Division One table. Warwickshire were third, Yorkshire eighth.

Although on first evidence this looks a decent batting pitch, it not a featherbed. There is a green tinge to it, and it was no real surprise when Bears’ captain Ed Barnard, who struck twice with his seamers, elected to bowl upon winning the toss. But the visiting attack largely struggled for consistency.

There was some – but not significant – assistance via extra bounce and swing.

Yorkshire reached at 118 for 1 at lunch, and Luxton was strong through the off side off both front and back foot en-route to a 78-ball fifty – his first of the season in all formats. Barnard had Lyth caught behind tentatively pushing forwards for 29 as the score fell to 102 for 1.

Frustratingly for the Bears, however, Luxton found another left-handed partner in Yorkshire-born Australian Whiteman, who has missed the last three Championship matches and the first half of the Vitality Blast through injury. Western Australia captain Whiteman scored a century in his last appearance against Sussex at Headingley in late April.

He worked the ball off his pads particularly nicely here before being stumped down leg having advanced at Warwickshire’s spin-bowling debutant Manav Suthar, the Indian Test left-armer, to make it 192 for 2.

A six-minute rain delay followed immediately. Barnard then claimed his second wicket when James Wharton was brilliantly caught behind one-handed diving to his right by Alex Davies as the score slipped to 209 for 3.

Incidentally, as good a catch as that was from Davies, Warwickshire’s ground fielding was sloppy. They let balls slip through their legs on more than one occasion.

Luxton’s previous best score in first-class cricket came on this ground last year in a draw against Surrey, a 71 batting at No. 4 in the order. He reached his century in 182 balls with a slog-swept six over deep midwicket off Suthar, the ball disappearing out of the ground and into one of the gardens of the nearby guesthouse. But the former England Under 19s player had actually moved from 50 to 100 in much more circumspect fashion.

Prior to this innings, Luxton had only scored 130 runs in the Championship and Vitality Blast combined in 2026.

Yorkshire reached tea at 238 for 3, and Luxton and Revis calmly advanced Yorkshire up to 303 before the latter was bowled by a beauty from Ethan Bamber with the new ball. Belligerent Bairstow then lofted Bamber for six over long-on moments before Luxton’s 150 came up in 282 balls.

Luxton and nightwatchman Ben Cliff fell in successive overs late in the day – lbw sweeping at Suthar and caught at first slip off Oliver Hannon-Dalby respectively. But Yorkshire will still be thrilled with their work.