Yorkshire continued where they left off from their title-winning campaign of 2014 on the opening day of the Champion County match against Marylebone Cricket Club at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Ryan Sidebottom,Jack Brooks,Adil Rashid and first-class debutant Will Rhodes took two wickets apiece as MCC were dismissed for 221 after opting to make first use in the annual day-night four-day game.
James Hildreth appeared to be leading MCC’s fightback after Sidebottom’s early double blow, sharing stands of 74 and 79 with Michael Carberry and Daryl Mitchell, who made 36 and 54 respectively.
But after the Somerset batsman departed lbw to Tim Bresnan for 89, MCC lost their last six wickets for just 36 runs.
Adam Lyth, one of three England players in Yorkshire’s side, then took his opportunity to impress Test skipper and MCC batsman Alastair Cook by compiling an unbeaten 53.
Despite Alex Lees and Jack Leaning edging Surrey pair Matt Dunn and Zafar Ansari behind the wicket, Lyth and nightwatchman Steven Patterson guided the champions to 82 for two after 26 overs at stumps, 139 runs behind.
MCC skipper Nick Compton lost the services of Durham seamer Graham Onions to a groin injury just 3.5 overs into his opening spell.
Compton did not have much luck earlier in the day either, regretting his decision to bat when the evergreen Sidebottom had him caught behind with the first ball of the match.
Worse was to follow when the left-arm seamer trapped Cook lbw in his next over to leave MCC seven for two.
Carberry and Hildreth steadied the ship for 21.2 overs until the Hampshire left-hander edged Patterson to Lyth at slip.
Hildreth and Worcestershire skipper Mitchell looked in fine early-season form during their alliance, the former moving to his half-century before lunch.
However, Bresnan broke the partnership when he dismissed Hildreth leg before with the score on 160, ending a 118-ball innings that included 15 fours.
After Mitchell raised his bat for fifty, he fell in similar fashion to his fellow half-centurion, former England Under-19 skipper Rhodes - another Tykes academy graduate - claiming his maiden first-class scalp.
That was when Yorkshire, without Liam Plunkett, sensed blood and Brooks bowled Sam Billings, failing to offer a shot, before having Chris Rushworth caught behind in the same over, the 55th.
Rhodes had a second, pinning Onions leg before, and Rashid wrapped up the tail to leave Ansari stranded on 24.
This takes some skill Martyn Moxon quality nicking off. #talent#MCCvYORpic.twitter.com/RKR7n1q4RR
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) March 22, 2015