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 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 leg-break bowler Amit Mishra, who is only two years his senior. 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 with nine boundaries before being last out when he edged Mishra's leg break to the wicketkeeper.

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 for four.

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 for his sixth boundary 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 with nine fours before failing to connect properly against Mishra's beautifully controlled spin.

Bresnan was soon involved in the action again when opener Shiv Sunder Das tickled him down the leg-side for Richard Blakey to hold the catch but Wasim Jaffer and Gautan Gambhir were still there at the close with India on 29 for one.

White, who broke down in agony while bowling at The Oval on Sunday, said of his surprise decision to play solely as a batsman: "I am still feeling very sore and there is no way I can bowl but I am confident I can get through with the bat."

White has now undergone two scans on his injured side and both indicate there has been no tissue tear in the area surrounding his pre-season rib operation.