ANDREW Hodd starred with a patient 101 on an otherwise disappointing day of batting for Yorkshire against Papua New Guinea in Dubai yesterday.

Yorkshire, replying to 266-7, were bowled out for 230 on the second day of their two-day friendly, with Jack Leaning batting twice for scores of six and 19.

Tim Bresnan made 40 to help recover the score from 44-4, adding 66 with Hodd either side of lunch.

Bresnan described Yorkshire's batting display in their first outing of 2017 as "soft", although Hodd was understandably delighted with his own personal contribution.

New captain Gary Ballance was caught behind down the leg-side for a golden duck as left-arm seamer Nosaina Pokana took the first four wickets.

"There were a few soft dismissals, myself included," said Bresnan. "I got myself in and then got myself out.

"Gaz (Ballance) was unlucky getting caught down the leg-side, and there might have been a dodgy lbw in there, but it was a bit soft to be honest.

"The boys are still in the nets a little bit. A few of them need some time in the middle. That's pretty obvious. But it's what we're here for."

Yorkshire face Lancashire in another two-day match starting on Sunday, with England seamer Jimmy Anderson a possible starter for the Red Rose county.

Hodd said: "It's just nice to spend some time in the middle, and the hundred was a bonus.

"It was actually quite a good wicket for me and what I've been working on over the winter.

"I've been working on trying to hit the ball a bit later. With it being quite a slow and dobby wicket, I had to work quite hard. I'm really happy how it went.

"The game against Lancashire will be a better gauge, but it's nice to go into that game feeling good."

Adam Lyth, who made 25, is now expected to join up with the MCC squad for the four-day champion county clash with Middlesex in Abu Dhabi, starting on Sunday, as an injury replacement for Kent captain Sam Northeast.

Lyth will be the third Yorkshire player to feature alongside opening partner Alex Lees and Liam Plunkett.

Meanwhile, Jason Gillespie is returning to county cricket as Kent's interim assistant coach this summer.

He is likely to spend approximately the first two months of the campaign at Canterbury whilst permanent appointment Allan Donald attempts to gain his visa.