England's Jonny Bairstow fell just shy of a quickfire century as he made his return from injury for Yorkshire's second XI on Tuesday.
Bairstow hit 97 off 88 deliveries including 13 fours and two sixes against Nottinghamshire's second XI in his first innings since breaking his leg on a golf course back in September.
The 33-year-old, who had reached his 50 off just 47 balls, was eventually denied his ton when he was caught off the bowling of Olly Stone (2-35).
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It comes as the latest and most meaningful step yet in Bairstow's effort to get himself ready for England's Test summer, which includes the five-match Ashes series against Australia from Friday June 16, live on Sky Sports.
Even allowing for a few signs of ring rust, he was a cut above the standard of most of the visiting attack and only really found himself stretched when he went head-to-head with Stone.
Like Bairstow, the former Warwickshire quick has designs on a role in the forthcoming Ashes series, and he was unlucky to have Bairstow dropped on 21. His third delivery to Bairstow flew off the outside edge at shoulder height and should have been taken at second slip, only for Calvin Harrison to parry the chance for four.
Stone, watched from the sidelines by the England and Wales Cricket Board's elite pace bowling coach Neil Killeen, was clocked at close to 90mph in the home dressing room and was in scene-stealing form on an occasion that otherwise belonged to one man.
He began by taking one for seven in a five-over burst with the new ball, hassled Bairstow in a combative second spell and removed him with the first ball of his third.
Yorkshire coach Tom Smith admitted his side's star attraction had succumbed to a few butterflies ahead of his first appearance in 241 days, but was pleased to see him back in the old groove soon enough.
"He was a little bit nervous this morning, it was like his debut again," said Smith. "He had a little chat with the lads this morning and it was quite funny - he said 'just watch it on the running'. But his first run he sprinted a single and we had a chuckle to ourselves.
"He's been keen as mustard to get out there playing cricket after such a long time off. He was gutted to get out, no matter what form of cricket he's gutted to get out - but he was happy with the way it went. Getting runs being out there in the middle, he was chuffed to bits.
"You can have as many nets as you want but when you actually get out there and face bowlers like Olly Stone it's going to test you. It's been a good challenge."
Bairstow's appearance at number four in the order further diminished the fanciful idea that he could make his England return as a repurposed opener, though he is scheduled to share wicketkeeping duties with Harry Duke for the rest of this match and that option could prove more appealing.
He took to the crease in the 25th over at 109-2, facing eight deliveries before lunch and then peeling off a 47-ball half-century in the afternoon.
His attacking repertoire got a brisk workout, with plenty of steers to third man, a couple of flicks over mid-wicket and one expertly timed on-drive. Not everything was fully controlled, with an edge through the vacant slip cordon and a wayward chip just landing safe off Toby Pettman adding to his reprieve off Stone.
But for the most part he was in charge, not least when launching Harrison's leg-spin for two big sixes into the stands. A hundred at the first time of asking looked inevitable after that but Stone's return did the trick as Bairstow picked out the catcher as he aimed for the ropes at cover.
Bairstow's road to recovery
Bairstow was in the midst of a career-best run of form when injury struck, taking a leading role in England's Test renaissance with four hundreds in five innings, and he was back amongst the runs in day one at Headingley.
The injury resulted in him missing England's victorious T20 World Cup campaign in Australia in October and November as well as the winter Test series in Pakistan and New Zealand.
It would prove an untimely setback after a scintillating summer during which he produced four Test hundreds, with Harry Brook having since flourished at No 5 in his absence with four hundreds in six Tests.
Bairstow is expected to spend time with the gloves against Notts, with replacing Ben Foakes behind the stumps representing one possible avenue back into the England side.
Yorkshire have LV= County Championship fixtures against Glamorgan from May 4 and Durham a week later, which could provide Bairstow with more match action ahead of England's fixtures.
The Men's Ashes
First Test (Edgbaston) - Friday June 16 - Tuesday June 20 (11am start)
Second Test (Lord's) - Wednesday June 28 - Sunday July 2 (11am start)
Third Test (Clean Slate Headingley) - Thursday July 6 - Monday July 10 (11am start)
Fourth Test (Emirates Old Trafford) - Wednesday July 19 - Sunday July 23 (11am start)
Fifth Test (The Kia Oval) - Thursday July 27 - Monday July 31 (11am start)