YORKSHIRE'S batsmen showed encouraging signs against a Jimmy Anderson-led Lancashire attack in Dubai yesterday, with captain Gary Ballance, Jack Leaning and Will Rhodes all spending valuable time at the crease.

Ballance hit 40, Leaning 48 and all-rounder Rhodes 35 not out in a 91-over score of 235-7 in this two-day friendly at the ICC's Global Academy.

Although this was far from a commanding performance for the White Rose on a slow pitch, they are missing openers Adam Lyth and Alex Lees due to MCC duty.

It meant they had to open with all-rounder Matthew Waite against a Red Rose attack including current and former internationals Anderson, Kyle Jarvis, Simon Kerrigan and Stephen Parry.

Six of Yorkshire's nine batsmen got starts and made it beyond 20 after losing Waite in the first over of the match, caught at first slip off Anderson, who returned 1-28 from his eleven overs.

"They have some very good bowlers who've taken a lot of wickets, so I think we did well," said Rhodes.

"Lancashire had the number one bowler in the world out there and other lads who have taken 50 or 60 wickets a season regularly.

"We are improving game by game. I think we were better here than we were against Papua New Guinea (230 all out last week).

"It would have been nice had someone gone on to get a score like Andrew Hodd did against them, but not to be. I thought Jack Leaning was a bit unlucky getting caught at point.

"It was just about spending time in the middle against quality bowlers in preparation for April and Hampshire."

Young left-arm seamer Toby Lester was Lancashire's most successful bowler, forcing Ballance to chop on before lunch and bowling Tim Bresnan through the gate just afterwards.

Steve Patterson hit a couple of late sixes in an unbeaten 28. Yorkshire will bowl today.