Bresnan thwarted by delays

Yorkshire 460-6 dec Worcestershire 1

Should Tim Bresnan find himself competing directly with Graham Onions for a place in England's starting XI at Lord's on Wednesday he might curse his luck a little after yesterday's frustrations.

After Onions celebrated his call-up with six wickets against Somerset at Taunton, Bresnan must have hoped he could deliver a similar endorsement of his selection here but after one delay followed another, the day ended with his enthusiasm counting for nothing.

The first hold-up to Yorkshire's progress was self-inflicted, in as much as Anthony McGrath, their captain, decided he wanted at least 450 runs in the bank before making a declaration.

Given that Worcestershire had lost their opening two matches, it seemed a little cautious. After Jacques Rudolph, who had batted beautifully since the match began on Tuesday morning, failed infuriatingly to complete a double hundred – on 198, he was smartly stumped on the leg side by Steven Davies, standing up to Daryl Mitchell's medium pace – they were on 405, which seemed enough.

Yet the innings dragged on another 40 minutes, which was good for Mitchell, who had already accounted for Andrew Gale and then removed Gerard Brophy in a career-best 4 for 49, but arguably not so for Yorkshire, if they hoped to win the match.

In the event, the argument may be rendered academic. Matthew Hoggard claimed a quick success, inducing an edge from Alexei Kervezee, on his Championship debut, that was taken superbly by Joe Sayers at third slip, but subsequently the players were seldom on the field for long before the light dimmed or a shower started. There were eight interruptions in all.

Bresnan had 13 overs, which was never enough for a chance to match the Onions half-dozen but which deserved a couple. He should have had Vikram Solanki out twice, the sometime England batsman offering a chance put down by Gale at fourth slip on six and another, that slipped through McGrath's fingers at second slip, on 49.

Solanki would have been a useful wicket to take. He is 66 not out overnight, the only other wicket to fall going to the pacy Ajmal Shahzad, who bowled five overs without conceding a run, dismissing Mitchell in the process, leg before to a ball that kept a shade low.

Yorkshire will replace Bresnan with Rana Naved for their match against Warwickshire next week after the Pakistan bowler belatedly obtained a work permit, beating the 1 May deadline imposed by the county by 24 hours.