Sparkling Shahzad issues a reminder to England

Bresnan pressed his claims with 4-64 on the opening day of this match, followed by an innings of 41 yesterday, while Broad captured 5-95 against Somerset at Trent Bridge.

It remains to be seen which of them gets the nod, but one man determined not to be forgotten by England is Ajmal Shahzad.

The Yorkshire pace bowler has slipped down the pecking order in recent times but there have been signs during this game that the spark is returning as he attempts to force his way back into the international fold.

Having been arguably Yorkshire’s best bowler during the Worcestershire first innings, when figures of 1-20 from 12 overs scarcely did him justice, Shahzad helped Yorkshire into a match-winning position with a sparkling 70 from the No 10 position.

Shahzad and Ryan Sidebottom (28no) added 109 for the last-wicket – the eighth-highest 10th-wicket stand in Yorkshire’s history – as the home team made 367 in reply to Worcestershire’s 168.

Shahzad then captured the important wicket of Vikram Solanki lbw as Worcestershire slid to 82-4 in their second innings to end day two 117 in arrears.

Victory would lift Yorkshire above Worcestershire and out of the relegation zone, although Worcestershire have the advantage of a game in hand.

Yorkshire were 254-8 when Shahzad walked out to bat 20 minutes after lunch.

The lead was useful but hardly conclusive and Worcestershire had just struck two quick blows with the second new ball.

On a pitch that had flattened out after 15 wickets had fallen on the opening day, Yorkshire could have done with a few more runs to feel comfortably on top.

It was a requirement sensed by Shahzad, who went about his work with the air of a man determined to help Yorkshire towards what would be only their second Championship win of the summer.

The 25-year-old was soon into his stride, launching Jack Shantry for six over long-on into the Trafalgar Square end with something approaching nonchalance. Batting with irresistible joie de vivre, Shahzad began to run the fielders ragged – that is when he was not taking them out of the equation completely.

There was little the Worcestershire XI could do but stand and admire as Shahzad struck the off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for six over mid-wicket on to the popular bank and then straight over long-on on to the roof of the Trafalgar Square stand.

Shahzad played splendidly all around the ground and reached 50 from as many balls – his third Championship half-century after his 88 against Sussex at Hove and 78 against Hampshire at Basingstoke, both in 2009. Shahzad could not do it all on his own, of course, and received stoic support from Sidebottom, who, not for the first time this summer, looked nothing like a No 11.

The former England pace bowler defended resolutely and worked the ball around shrewdly as Worcestershire became frustrated at their failure to find a breakthrough.

Shahzad struck a fourth six when he launched Gareth Andrew over long-on into the Peasholm Park end, the shot bringing up the 350 and a fourth batting bonus point.

Shahzad then raised the century partnership by turning Saeed to backward square-leg for a single – it was only the 11th time a Yorkshire last-wicket pair have added three figures in Championship cricket.

Yorkshire’s previous best 10th-wicket stand against Worcestershire of 106 by Brian Sellers and Don Brennan at New Road in 1948 was eclipsed before Shahzad perished on the stroke of tea, caught at long-on by Alan Richardson off Saeed.

Yorkshire had begun the day on 135-5, with Andrew Gale undefeated on 68.

The captain had not added to his score when he was badly dropped from the fifth ball of the morning, Moeen Ali the culprit at third slip after Richardson found the outside edge.

Richardson dismissed Gale in the fifth over, lbw for 72, but Yorkshire then rallied through Bresnan and Gary Ballance, who added 92 for the seventh-wicket in 30 overs.

Ballance had a life on 15 when Ali dropped another chance at third slip, this time off Andrew, which would have left Yorkshire 172-7.

As it was, the scoreboard showed 235 by the time Bresnan played on to Andrew in the first over after lunch.

Ballance progressed to his fifth half-century in successive Championship matches from 127 balls with four boundaries before falling to the first delivery with the second new ball, lbw to Richardson.

Adil Rashid shouldered arms to Shantry and was lbw before Shahzad and Sidebottom kept the crowd royally entertained for 24 overs.

Sidebottom struck with the sixth ball of the Worcestershire reply when Matt Pardoe was caught in the slips.

Ali was run-out by a smart throw from Anthony McGrath at cover, and the fourth wicket fell just before stumps when Alex Kervezee was caught behind off Rich Pyrah.

Scoreboard: Page 26.

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