MCC 282 for 6 (Foakes 83*, Clarke 56*, Burns 51, Bresnan 3-52) lead Yorkshire 275 by seven runs
Scorecard
Karl Carver celebrates dismissing Ian Bell © Getty Images
Ian Bell could not quite make the same early statement as Gary Ballance managed in Abu Dhabi but a lower-order fightback by Ben Foakes and Rikki Clarke lifted the MCC to a first-innings lead against Yorkshire.
Bell was dropped from the England Test side after the series against Pakistan in the UAE – the Sheikh Zayed Stadium is the scene of his most recent international half-century – and like Ballance, who scored a century on the opening day, is eyeing a strong early-season push to state his credentials for a recall to what remains an flimsy England top order.
However, having eased to 44 with seven fours and a six he fell to Karl Carver, the 19-year-old left-arm spinner, when he tried to clear the infield and was caught at mid-on having earlier deposited the spinner over the ropes.
Bell was one of three middle-order wickets to fall for 11 runs in four overs as the MCC slipped to 114 for 5 following a third-wicket stand of 89 between Bell and Roy Burns. Tim Bresnan, who finished the day with 3 for 51, had Burns caught behind for 51 and after Bell departed he trapped Samit Patel lbw to add to his early scalp of Nick Browne.
When Tom Westley edged Steven Patterson, Yorkshire were well-placed for a lead but an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 131 in 37 overs between Foakes, the Surrey wicketkeeper-batsman, and Warwickshire allrounder Clarke turned the day around for the MCC.
Clarke bided his time – he was 1 off 34 balls at the tea interval – but during the final session the scoring rate increased and he brought up his fifty from 103 deliveries.
Foakes was initially given out on 17 before the umpires, Neil Mallender and David Millns, conferred and the decision was reversed – his dismissal would have left the MCC 152 for 7 – and he brought up his half-century from 132 balls with boundary off Bresnan as both batsmen profited against the second new ball until bad light ended play.
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Source: ESPN Crickinfo