AS COMEBACKS from serious injuries go, Michael Vaughan, the captain of England in 33 Test matches, could not have expected anything better.

His suspect right knee stood up to the fielding challenge, emphasised by a nimble run-out of Craig Wright, the Scotland captain, before his commanding strokeplay brought 67 at a run a ball, including nine fours and a six.

Yorkshire’s target was revised twice, the final one being 158 from 30 overs, but when Vaughan had taken guard at 28 for one after seven overs, Yorkshire still had much to achieve. Vaughan’s only false stroke before being brilliantly caught by Gavin Hamilton at mid-wicket was when Ian Moran dropped a low return catch after he had scored 19.

“It was a good workout,” Vaughan said. “I shall wait and see how I feel in the morning but I want to play in all of Yorkshire’s matches for the next two or three weeks, starting against Hampshire in the championship on Wednesday.

“I have felt very confident but kept very quiet about it, and those around me have too as I did not want a setback.

“I cannot say when I might play for England again. It is early days and this is an old cliché, but I am taking it game by game. I wouldn’t have played today if I didn’t think I could have done a good job for Yorkshire.”

Vaughan, 31, had not played since making a fleeting appearance in an England tour match in India three months ago, having undergone knee surgery last November. His most recent game at the highest level was his 64th Test match, against Pakistan in Lahore six months ago.

The conditions did not favour fielders, with two interruptions for rain freshening the surface during the Scotland innings. Vaughan was employed at short fine leg, from where his direct hit from 30 yards knocked back the middle stump to dismiss Wright.

Apart from Vaughan’s innings, Yorkshire thrived on the strokeplay of Darren Lehmann (29).

Colin Smith scored 71 off 95 balls for Scotland and shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 105 with Hamilton, but Vaughan’s accomplished return ended a three-match winning run.