OPENER Alex Lees was his own sternest critic after his fine century had helped Yorkshire respond strongly to Nottinghamshire’s 428 all out on the second day of the LV= County Championship division one game at Trent Bridge.

The 22-year-old made 100 off 223 balls, an innings that included 11 fours, before being caught by wicketkeeper Chris Read off Will Gidman the ball after reaching his landmark.

Yorkshire were 226-3 at stumps with skipper Andrew Gale undefeated on 13 and York's Jack Leaning three not out.

“With Adam Lyth not there and the other guys missing in the West Indies, someone needed to stand up,” said Lees, as he reflected on his role in an under-strength White Rose side.

“So, although I am still relatively inexperienced, I am trying to take a bit of that pressure by being as consistent as possible.

“I got out to short wide ball and I thought I did half a job out there. But we’re in a decent position and hopefully the other lads can carry on from the good start.

“It’s hard against the new ball on that wicket but once you get through that period, it’s good for batting. But I had to labour hard for my runs and it was disappointing to get out after I had worked so hard.”

Lees' self-criticism is admirably honest from a cricketer still learning his trade.

He batted very well for his century but was also reprieved on 59 and 79, the first when Samit Patel dropped a catch at slip off Vernon Philander and the second when Patel put down a catch off his own bowling.

However, the opener got his head down and added 112 for the second wicket with Cheteshwar Pujara, who made 57, his first half-century for Yorkshire, before being caught at midwicket off Patel by substitute fielder Ben Kitt.

Pujara had come to the wicket when Stamford Bridge all-rounder Will Rhodes, another graduate of Yorkshire’s Academy, had been caught by Patel at second slip off Harry Gurney for 41 with the total on 66.

Both Lees and Pujara batted with admirable judgement against a mostly accurate Nottinghamshire attack, which at times made better use of the Trent Bridge wicket than one or two of the Yorkshire bowlers had done on the first morning.

However, the White Rose attack redeemed themselves early on the second day by taking the last three Notts wickets at a cost of 35 runs, allowing openers Lees and Rhodes to capitalise on this good work work by guiding their side to 62-0 lunch.

Jack Brooks had Vernon Philander caught by second slip Leaning for seven before Steven Patterson claimed the prize wicket of Alex Hales, who was bowled by a good ball when he had made an outstanding 236.

Tim Bresnan bowled Jake Ball to end the innings and finished with 2-85. Brooks claimed 3-99, but the pick of the visiting attack was Patterson, who returned figures of 29-10-78-3.