THE prime idea behind the change in format of the Cheltenham & Gloucester Trophy this year was allegedly to give English players more exposure to 50-overs cricket. Here, Yorkshire included four men who learnt the game in Australia and three more who were raised in South Africa.

To be fair, the club have served England well in recent years and they did themselves and most other teams in the North Conference an immense favour by beating a Lancashire side who were in danger of romping away with the league. With Derbyshire also defeated yesterday, the fight to reach Lord’s remains alive and Sussex, in the South Conference, are now the only county unbeaten in all cricket this season.

Almost inevitably it was Darren Lehmann, a veteran of 117 one-day internationals for Australia, who saw Yorkshire home, following figures of two for 38 with an unbeaten innings of 92 from 69 balls that overhauled a stiff target of 288. This was at least 20 runs less daunting than it should have been for Lancashire had reached 205 for two from 34 overs. They then lost their way after Mal Loye top-edged a sweep at Lehmann and fell at short fine leg for 95 from

93 balls. Only 31 more runs were added from the next nine overs for the loss of Stuart Law and Gareth Cross, and Lehmann nipped a brief revival in the bud thereafter when Luke Sutton clipped him to mid-wicket.

In contrast, Yorkshire powered forward at the right moment. With the asking rate at its most demanding and three men gone, they needed 77 from the last nine overs. Lehmann, aided by Anthony McGrath, then ensured that, successively, the first four of these overs conceded 11, 11, 9 and 14 runs and the task was suddenly comfortable. Simon Marshall, the novice leg spinner, impressive hitherto, was ruthlessly taken apart.

Although McGrath’s 54 from 49 balls ended when he hit a full toss to the infield, Lehmann added 21 more runs as Gerard Brophy, the new batsman, was barely allowed the strike and, almost swinging himself off his feet, the bulky Lehmann concluded with a mighty six over Cow corner to bring victory with eight balls to spare.

The foundations had earlier been laid by Craig White, who fashioned 59 from 87 more circumspect balls. White’s opening partner, Matthew Wood, may have been disconcerted to hear the announcement made on the public address system that Michael Vaughan was in the squad for Yorkshire’s game today against Scotland. Wood is most likely to make room and, soon after, he shouldered arms to be leg-before.

Vaughan’s long-awaited return should now follow in what, after Scotland’s win at Derby, remains a crucial match for both sides. With Wood out for 27, Michael Lumb arrived to hit 46 from 43 balls and prepare the way for Lehmann. Mark Chilton, with 44, and Brad Hodge, with 42, had played similar top-order roles for Lancashire, but their efforts were not made to count.