MICHAEL Lumb and Tim Bresnan both weighed in with half-centuries at Headingley yesterday as Yorkshire struggled to make a respectable score against India 'A's nicely balanced attack.

They were bowled out for 246 after winning the toss in humid conditions and were constantly posed problems by 18-year-old left-arm medium-pacer Irfan Pathan and wily leg break bowler Amit Mishra, 20.

The pair had an equal share in eight of the wickets to fall and they performed with a maturity far beyond their years.

But Lumb countered with another fine exhibition of batting which underlined his own potential as a future Test player and Bresnan showed that his skills are not confined solely to bowling by hitting a first-class career-best 52 off 86 balls.

Indian spectators in the modest crowd were disappointed that Yuvraj Singh had been forced to drop out of Yorkshire's side because of a sore throat and it was an untimely illness in view of his extended run of poor batting form.

Yorkshire soon lost Matthew Wood who shouldered arms to Amit Bhandari and saw his off-stump fly out and Pathan took the next three wickets as the score dipped to 109-4.

Lumb, however, hit some glorious shots off the meat of the bat and had raced on to 65 from 108 balls with 13 fours when he was beaten by Mishra's turn and neatly taken at slip by Hemang Badani.

Craig White showed little discomfort from his side injury while batting and was his usual stylish self until he attempted to hit Mishra over the top and was caught at extra cover for 31.

Of the remaining batsmen, only Bresnan exhibited any real authority and he played shots all round the wicket to complete his maiden half-century off 69 balls before failing to connect properly against Parthan.

Bresnan was soon involved in the action again when opener Shiv Sunder Das tickled him down the legside for Richard Blakey to hold the catch.

Updated: 09:26 Thursday, July 10, 2003