Fifties for Procter and Reece in draw with Yorkshire

Lancashire 256/6 after 90 overs - Procter 64, Reece 58; Carver 2-93, Bresnan 1-18

Luke Procter and Luis Reece both made half centuries as Lancashire and Yorkshire's two-day friendly encounter in Dubai ended in a draw.

Lancashire reached 256/6 at close, still trailing Yorkshire's total by 57 runs, but the Red Rose demonstrated that they have the potential to compete in the upcoming season, having tested their credentials against a formidable opponent in the current county champions.

A sturdy partnership worth 80 runs between Tom Smith and Luke Procter allowed Lancashire to recover from a nervous start to their innings, before Luis Reece and Liam Livingstone cemented the innings with a flamboyant partnership.

Smith (31) and Procter (64) came together at 29/2 with Yorkshire in the ascendancy, but managed to get Lancashire back on track with a determined partnership at the ICC Academy Grounds. Yesterday, the White Rose notched up 313/6 dec, with Gary Ballance hitting an unbeaten century and Andrew Gale also carrying his bat with a brisk fifty.

In reply to Yorkshire's strong total, the Red Rose made a shaky start in Dubai, losing both opening batsman inside the first hour of the day. Reaching 22/0 before the first threatening delivery, 19-year-old Haseeb Hameed was first to depart when he shouldered arms to Jack Brooks (1-25) and was bowled for 10.

Although it took Yorkshire longer to make the first breakthrough, their second-wicket partnership was far more significant than Lancashire's. Karl Brown edged behind to Andrew Hodd off Tim Bresnan (1-18), who struck in his first over to leave the Red Rose in discomfort at 28/2.

Lancashire needed a strong partnership to prevent a devastating top-order collapse, which arrived when former captain Smith and Procter came together for the third wicket. Procter in particular looked to dispatch the bad ball and dig in against a ferocious Yorkshire bowling attack, with the likes of Brooks, Bresnan and Ryan Sidebottom all featuring for the White Rose.

Smith, however, was looking to test his credentials against the current county champions after an extended absence from the first team. Procter continued to dispatch anything wide of his off-stump, scoring seven boundaries on his way to fifty, which he registered in 119 balls.

Their partnership continued to develop unscathed, until Matthew Fisher (1-18) encouraged an edge to Hodd, as Smith was caught behind for 31. Procter fell soon after, now accompanied by wicketkeeper Alex Davies, edging to Bresnan at slip off the spin bowling of Karl Carver (2-93).

Carver continued to bowl a tidy line throughout the afternoon session as Davies and Luis Reece survived until the tea interval. After the break, Davies began to open his shoulders, hitting Carver to the boundary regularly, before departing for 28 when he was caught off the bowling of Jack Leaning (1-21).

Reece adopted a similar approach, with his new partner, Livingstone, also enjoying the aggressive route. They added a further 88 runs for the sixth wicket in less than 20 overs, as Reece progressed to a 102-ball fifty, with three fours and a six.

Carver claimed his second victim when he had Reece stumped for 58, with his wicket all-but signalling the end of this two-day fixture. Livingstone threatened to become the third Lancashire batsman to reach fifty, but fell short of this milestone when the match was drawn.