Bell leads the way as MCC down champions

MCC 299 (Foakes 91, Clarke 58, Burns 51, Bresnan 4-58, Carver 4-106) and 257 for 6 (Bell 66, Westley 58) beat Yorkshire 275 (Ballance 105, Rhodes 95, Tredwell 3-53) and 279 (Lees 86, Patel 3-52, Tredwell 3-79) by four wickets
Scorecard

Champions Yorkshire were beaten by four wickets in Abu Dhabi as Ian Bell helped lay the platform for a comfortable MCC win. Bell, who has designs on an England Test recall after being dropped over the winter, compiled 66 from 134 balls and although he was dismissed with 57 needed, Ben Foakes guided MCC over the line.

Yorkshire's first defeat of the season - and only their fifth in first-class cricket since Jason Gillespie took charge in 2012 - came with the added discomfort of Tim Bresnan limping off with a sore Achilles, having only bowled two overs. Gillespie, however, suggested his withdrawal was a precautionary measure.

Yorkshire added 40 to their overnight score, despite losing Will Rhodes in the fourth over of the day, to set MCC 256 on a pitch that was increasingly taking spin. Karl Carver, Yorkshire's 19-year-old slow left-armer, got through 25 overs to pick up 2 for 88 but MCC built several useful partnerships on their way to victory in the final session.

Bell, captaining MCC ahead of taking charge of Warwickshire's 2016 fortunes, was at the centre of the pursuit. Adam Lyth's part-time offspin accounted for Nick Browne and Rory Burns was run out but Essex's Tom Westley stroked ten fours and a six during an 84-run stand with Bell that pushed Yorkshire back.

Westley was stumped off Carver but Bell took the score on in partnership with Samit Patel and Foakes before becoming the fifth man out trying to hit over the top with MCC on 199. Yorkshire had been reduced to bowling Jack Leaning and although he picked up his second and third first-class wickets, Rikki Clarke's sprightly 33 ensured MCC would not be derailed.