Magic Malan claims hero status with a timely ton

DAWID Malan scored his first Yorkshire century as the White Rose took control of their North Group top-of-the-table clash with Derbyshire at Headingley.

- Charlie Bennett

England hopeful Malan – an off-season signing from Middlesex – is unbeaten on 145 after hitting 21 fours and a six in a fluent 180-ball knock.

Bad light meant only 78 overs were possible and Yorkshire finished on 2804, with Jonathan Tattersall alongside Malan and unbeaten on 64.

While Malan reminded the England selectors of his talents, Jonny Bairstow again failed to prove he deserves to be in the Test side as he fell for 22.

This is likely to be Bairstow’s last four-day game of the summer, with England’s one-day series against Pakistan and Australia on the horizon, but he has done little to suggest England made an error by not picking him for the Test side.

Batting at No.3, Bairstow was called to the crease in the second over after Tom Kohler-Cadmore fell for a four-ball duck to Ben Aitchison.

He hit four boundaries but was caught off the bowling of Anuj Dal in the 16th over.

That brought Malan to the crease and he and fellow left-hander Adam Lyth put on 66 for the third wicket before Michael Cohen had the latter caught for 31.

Harry Brook fell three balls later to the same bowler, leaving Yorkshire at 1064, before Malan and Tattersall took control.