AJMAL SHAHZAD gave Yorkshire the upper hand as he showed signs of returning to top form during day two against Hampshire at Headingley yesterday.

The 25-year-old fast bowler, who started the day with an obdurate batting effort as Yorkshire reached a useful 355, then claimed the four wickets of Liam Dawson, Neil McKenzie, James Vince and Johann Myburgh as England selector James Whittaker watched on.

Shahzad is an outside candidate for the final seam bowler’s place for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Cardiff in just under a fortnight, seemingly behind Tim Bresnan, Steve Finn and Chris Tremlett in the pecking order.

But, if he can build on yesterday’s exploits during this match and then for the Lions against the tourists next week, he may still sneak in on the blindside to supplement Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and off-spinner Graeme Swann.

Shahzad’s fiery burst yesterday included wickets with the second ball of his first and second spell, and went a long way to forcing Hampshire onto the back foot at 189-6 from 63 overs.

Shahzad’s bowling, which amounted to 4-48 from 14 overs, was the highlight of a fragmented day.

There were seven stoppages for rain and neither side were really able to get their teeth stuck into the day until the final session.

Yorkshire started on 304-7 with Bresnan on 82 and Shahzad on 42. Neither made it to their milestones as Hampshire captain Dominic Cork excelled by taking two wickets and only conceding 15 runs from 17.4 overs bowled. The 39 year-old, ex-England man, who had Shahzad caught in the slips, finished with 5-75 from 37.4 overs.

The pace of the first two sessions was summed up by Shahzad’s uncharacteristic innings of 48 from 168 balls. He only scored six runs from 58 balls yesterday, and spent 35 minutes stuck on 48.

Dawson and Jimmy Adams had got their side off to a solid start in reply early in the afternoon session, adding 42 for the first wicket until Shahzad trapped Dawson lbw with one that cut back in the 16th over.

Bresnan then had Adams caught behind by Jonathan Bairstow with the first ball of his second spell, leaving the score at 69-2 in the 28th over.

Shahzad struck after the break, getting McKenzie caught at first slip by Adam Lyth and trapping James Vince lbw with a searing yorker, to put the visitors under pressure at 119-4 in the 48th.

Myburgh’s 64 off 125 balls was the highlight for Hampshire. He even brought up his fifty with a pulled six off Adil Rashid.

But the South African failed to last the day. He was Shahzad’s fourth victim, caught behind in the closing stages of the day.

Ryan Sidebottom had earlier left Hampshire at 154-5 when he bowled wicketkeeper Nic Pothas.

Cork and Sean Ervine will resume this morning with their side still 166 runs behind. They also need 17 more to avoid the follow-on.