Gough leads rout of holders

Michael Vaughan again got a start only to perish when set

Michael Vaughan fell cheaply but captain Darren Gough led the way regardless as Yorkshire Carnegie sauntered past Friends Provident Trophy holders Durham Dynamos.

The England captain made 22 in his final innings before the Lord’s Test, caught by his vice-captain Paul Collingwood off the bowling of Graham Onions.

Former England fast bowler Gough claimed the wickets of current internationals Phil Mustard and Collingwood, as well as South African batsman Neil McKenzie as the visitors were bundled out for 185 in 45.3 overs.

Richard Pyrah returned the stand-out figures of 3-25, while Adil Rashid weighed in with two wickets.

Despite Vaughan falling cheaply, Yorkshire were never in any real danger of failing to reach their target, Andrew Gale top-scoring with 68 and Anthony McGrath finishing unbeaten on 45 with more than 14 overs to spare.

Steve Harmison was as expensive as he was destructive, finishing with 3-58.

Andrew Flintoff made just eight as Lancashire Lightning slumped to an embarrassing two-run Friends Provident Trophy defeat to Scotland Saltires.

Lancashire crashed to 44 for seven but came close to a dramatic victory thanks to Kyle Hogg’s heroic 66 not out.

They fell agonisngly short as Hogg and James Anderson failed to score six runs from the last two balls, bowled by Gordon Drummond.

Owais Shah made a fine 68 in a losing cause

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Flintoff, hoping to be named in the England side for the first Test against New Zealand which starts on May 15, once again failed with the bat after earlier impressing with the ball at Old Trafford.

North Division leaders Lancashire, who crushed rock-bottom Scotland by eight wickets just over a week ago, appeared set for another comfortable victory after restricting their visitors to 155 for nine, Flintoff taking 2-18.

Captain Chris Adams – 38 on Tuesday – hit a thrilling unbeaten century as Sussex Sharks claimed their first victory in the South East Division.

Adams’ 109 not out, off just 103 balls, sealed a seven-wicket victory over Middlesex Crusaders, who had set their opponents a daunting 274 to win at Hove.

On a batting-friendly wicket Andrew Strauss scored just 26 for Middlesex, while fellow England hopeful Owais Shah struck 68.

For Sussex, wicketkeeper Matt Prior did his bid for an international recall no harm with 79.

Another discarded England keeper, Geraint Jones, gave selectors a nudge as he hit 86 in Kent Spitfires’ 90-run win over Surrey Brown Caps at The Oval.

Jones’ 88-ball knock helped to propel Kent to 282 for seven off 50 overs, with Surrey then bowled out for 192.

Monty Panesar claims one of his three Ireland wickets

Irishman Niall O’Brien returned to haunt his World Cup team-mates with a career-best one-day score as Northamptonshire Steelbacks defeated Ireland by eight wickets in the Midlands Division at Wantage Road.

O’Brien hit 75 and fellow opener Stephen Peters, who made 90 against Nottinghamshire yesterday, smashed an unbeaten 103 off 129 balls as the hosts surpassed their 204-run target inside 43 overs.

England spinner Monty Panesar took 3-36 for Northants.

Leicestershire Foxes moved to the top of the table with a 45-run victory over Warwickshire Bears after a delayed start at Edgbaston.

The visitors made 148 for six off their 23 overs when play got under way following rain.

Warwickshire were unable to match the testing run rate and were 103 all out with only seven balls remaining, Ryan Cummins the chief destroyer with 3-21.

Former England batsman Vikram Solanki smashed five sixes in an unbeaten 88 as Worcestershire Royals won a thrilling rain-reduced match against Glamorgan Dragons by seven wickets.

Having lost their opening south west division match, the Royals were set a tough 186 to win in 28 overs at New Road.

But Solanki guided them home with nine balls to spare.