Gary Ballance was the star of the second day's play as he hit a composed 104 not out from 229 balls and 15 fours. Does that book him a place on the coach to Worcester?

(PHOTO: Gary Ballance on his way to an unbeaten 104 in today's friendly)

The opening partnership of 72 between Joe Root and Ballance was broken by Ryan Sidebotom this morning when he had Root caught behind by Jonny Bairstow. The Blain XI then lost Adil Rashid for 16 when he was lbw to Lee Hodgson, but then cantered past their target of 127 in this 2-day inter-squad friendly.

Gerard Brophy looked in great form for his 27 before dancing down he wicket to Azeem Rafiq to be stumped by Jonny Bairstow at he second attempt.

Rich Pyrah made 4 before being dismissed second ball after lunch. David Wainwright batted well for his 29, but became Hodgson's second victim and then Anthony McGrath batted with a runner to make 11 before being snaffled lbw by Gurman Randhawa.

The Blain XI declared at tea on 239-6 to enable the Gale XI batsmen to have some more time in the middle than they managed in their first dig.

DAY ONE REPORT

The John Blain XI were in a commanding position after Day 1 of the inter-squad friendly at Headingley Carnegie, ending the day 48-0 chasing just 127 to beat the Andrew Gale XI and claim dressing room bragging rights as the season proper looms.

At close Joe Root (22) and Gary Ballance (23), two players seemingly in direct competition for Anthony McGrath’s potentially vacant number 3 spot, had taken their side securely through without hazard. McGrath faces a battle to recover from a nerve problem in his right leg ahead of the Championship opener at Worcester on Friday.

It was the Yorkshire youngsters who led the way  with Callum Geldart (36 from 74 balls and 6 fours) and Billy Root (19 from 28 balls and 4 fours) rescuing the Andrew Gale XI with a 9th wicket stand of 44, while young Barney Gibson was equally impressive behind the stumps.

Geldart and Root came together at 75-8 after the John Blain XI’s pace attack had mauled the top order with some accurate bowling on a seamer friendly morning.

Joe Sayers was the first to depart for a duck when attempting to leave alone a ball that uprooted his off-stump with the score on 2. Andrew Gale made a bright 14 before nudging a ball from Moin Ashraf to a diving Richard Pyrah at 2nd slip.

Jonny Bairstow lasted six balls before being trapped in front by Patterson for 5 to make the score 21-3 and then a similar ball dismissed Lee Hodgson for a 10-ball duck and the Andrew Gale's XI were rocking at 29-4 in the 13th over.

Adam Lyth had worked hard for his 19, including 2 fours, before being bowled in Richard Pyrah's first over for 19 and Azeem Rafiq was tempted into a drive by James Lee and was well caught by Gary Ballance at 2nd slip for a duck. Lee struck again when he removed Ryan Sidebottom's middle stump to leave the Gale XI teetering on 47-7.

Gurman Randhawa and Callum Geldart rallied either side of the lunch break (after being delayed by rain where 32 overs were lost) and added 28 for the 8th wicket, before the latter was caught by Gibson off the bowling of Patterson for 11. Gibson has impressed behind the sticks - sharp, agile and quick with his hands - he dived full length to his left to snaffle Randhawa inches from the floor. The score 75-8.

Rashid broke the Root and Geldart partnership when he had Billy Root lbw to make the score 119-9 and Richard Pyrah rounded things off when he dismissed Oliver Hannon-Dalby for 4.

Play will resume at 10.30am on Tuesday and there is free admission.

JAMES BUTTLER at Headingley Carnegie

GALE XI INNINGS 

BLAIN XI INNINGS

GALE XI 2nd INNINGS

GALE XI

Adam LYTH, Joe SAYERS, Andrew GALE (c), Jonny BAIRSTOW (wk), Lee HODGSON, Azeem RAFIQ, Ryan SIDEBOTTOM, Callum GELDART, Gurman RANDHAWA, Oliver HANNON-DALBY and Iain WARDLAW.

BLAIN XI

Joe ROOT, Gary BALLANCE, Adil RASHID, Gerard BROPHY, Richard PYRAH, David WAINWRIGHT, Steve PATTERSON, James LEE, Moin ASHRAF, Barney GIBSON (wk) and John BLAIN (c).