Vaughan steals the show

A magnificent 116 from Michael Vaughan, his best domestic innings since the one-day century at Taunton in 2001 announced his arrival on the world stage, took Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy yesterday.

A magnificent 116 from Michael Vaughan, his best domestic innings since the one-day century at Taunton in 2001 announced his arrival on the world stage, took Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy yesterday.

Vaughan's heroics stole the man of the match award from one of cricket's great showmen, Dominc Cork.

Lancashire must have thought themselves safe but Vaughan, whose three sixes included a rocket over extra cover off Sajid Mahmood, led the Yorkshire innings through a mid-life crisis, following a late clatter of wickets.

Yorkshire's disappointment at Lancashire's final total could be seen in their body language as they left the field. When Alec Swann was run out in the 38th over, by a neat piece of fielding involving the bowler, Darren Lehmann, and Richard Blakey, Lancashire were only 195 for 4 and it just seemed possible that they could be limited to 250.

Up to the point where Cork joined Carl Hooper, the Lancashire innings might have been entrapped in spider silk, so accurately did Yorkshire bowl and so tightly did they field.

Mark Chilton was dropped once before being caught at slip, Chris Silverwood's wild first over was redeemed when he had the aggressive Mal Loye caught behind, and then had Stuart Law well held at short third man.

But Yorkshire smiles faded and the 7,000 crowd woke up when Hooper and Cork got stuck in.The fifth wicket pair took 66 off the next 32 balls as, for the first time, Craig White's pre-match planning was ripped apart. Cork greeted Matthew Hoggard's return to the attack by taking three leg-side fours off the England opening bowler.

Hoggard responded with a near yorker that trapped Hooper, which left Cork exactly where he craves to be - centre stage and in the spotlight. Cork's captain Warren Hegg then watched him complete a remarkable innings, 54 off 20 balls, finishing with successive sixes offTim Bresnan.

Yorkshire made their usual brisk one-day start, with the 50 arriving in the ninth over before Matthew Wood misjudged Sajid's pace and lofted to midoff. The innings was in real danger in successive overs from the 17th when first Phil Jaques played on to the nagging Peter Martin and then Anthony McGrath, slow off his mark for a very sharp single, was run out by Mark Chilton's direct throw.

Vaughan and Lehmann, rapier and sabre, added 149 in 24 overs before James Anderson shot out the Richards, Blakey and Dawson in successive overs. Vaughan, master and commander, then talked a shaky 19-year-old Bresnan through three critical overs, to seal it.