Yorkshire struggled to stay in the game at Headingley yesterday after a maiden first class century from 18-year-old wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel had enabled India 'A' to declare on 336-8 with a first innings lead of 90.

Opener Chris Taylor then failed for the second time in the match and Yorkshire were still in difficulties on 27-1 at the close.

The slightly built Parthiv hit the headlines last summer when he made his Test debut against England at Trent Bridge without any previous first class experience and at 17 years, 153 days he became the youngest-ever Test wicketkeeper.

His maiden century contained off-side strokes of the highest class, most of them all along the ground, and he reached three figures off 120 balls with 19 elegant boundaries.

There was a moment of unpleasantness when Yorkshire thought Parthiv was caught behind on 98 but umpire Graham Burgess gave him not out and some chuntering between the sides continued throughout the remainder of the day.

Parthiv's eventual dismissal for 129 was received with acclaim by Yorkshire because it came off acting captain Matthew Wood's first ball in first class cricket for his county, the batsman edging an intended drive to Richard Blakey.

Earlier in the day, the tourists were sent galloping along by Wasim Jaffer who five years ago had figured in an opening stand of 277 for Spen Victoria in a Bradford League match against Baildon.

He thrashed 67 from 83 balls with 15 boundaries before falling lbw to Tim Bresnan who picked up career-best figures of 3-88 and after Jaffer had gone Yorkshire were thrust back in the match by the athletic Gary Fellows who was twice bang on target to run out Hemang Badani and Gautam Gambhir.

Fellows also went on to claim a wicket with his first ball of the innings but India were put in a position to declare by Amit Mishra who made an unbeaten 52 from 90 balls with four fours and one big six off Wood.

Andy Gray flighted his off-breaks skilfully but his only wicket in 26 economic overs came when L Balaji moved across his stumps and was lbw.

Yorkshire began their second innings in gloomy light and in the second over Taylor edged Amit Bhandari to third slip where Shiv Sunder Das held on to a smart catch.

Vic Craven, needing a decent score himself to re-establish his first team credentials, survived until a shower brought forward the close by ten minutes when he was on 11 and Wood six.

Updated: 08:53 Friday, July 11, 2003