Adam Lyth issued a timely reminder of his England credentials with an assured innings of 113 in front of Alastair Cook as Yorkshire moved into a first-innings lead against Marylebone Cricket Club in Abu Dhabi.
Having started the day unbeaten on 53, Lyth moved serenely through to his 15th first-class century and helped the champions to 372 before they were dismissed at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Steven Patterson hung around gamely for 36 to frustrate skipper Nick Compton and his attack, before Will Rhodes and Andrew Hodd put on 104 to give Yorkshire a 151-run advantage. MCC were 13 for nought at the close.
Adam Riley, on his 23rd birthday, was the pick of MCC's bowlers, finishing the day with 3-90, while Chris Rushworth, Matt Dunn and Zafar Ansari also took two wickets apiece.
Lyth, selected to tour the West Indies with England in April, picked up from where he left off in September, hitting a classy century in front of his potential international opening partner as Cook watched on from second slip.
After an early delay for rain, unheard of in United Arab Emirates, Lyth and Patterson proceeded to add 91 for the third wicket, with the opening batsman bringing up three figures with a well-timed late cut which raced to the third-man boundary.
Patterson was eventually dismissed with the score on 170, bowled by Riley after a stubborn knock.
Jonny Bairstow failed to make an impression in his short stay, trapped in front by a Rushworth delivery that nipped back and caught him flush on the pad to bring in debutant Rhodes.
The 20-year-old followed up an impressive bowling performance with a calm innings, mixing aggression against the spinners with a solid defence before losing Lyth, who was adjudged lbw off Riley.
Rhodes and Hodd combined well for the sixth wicket to take Yorkshire into the lead, but the latter fell shortly before the second interval for a fluent 57, caught behind to give Dunn a second victim.
Rushworth eventually had Rhodes caught at slip for 61, but Adil Rashid added a handy 42 before Michael Carberry and Ansari chipped in to end the Yorkshire innings shortly before the close of play.
Compton and Cook came through five testing overs unscathed and will resume tomorrow on seven and two respectively.