Vaughan in injury scare

Michael Vaughan takes a blow on the right hand against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl

England captain Michael Vaughan was sent to hospital for x-rays on a damaged finger after being forced to retire hurt while playing for Yorkshire against Hampshire at the Rose Bowl.

Vaughan, seeking to bat himself into some form after a poor World Cup, had scored 16 in Yorkshire's second innings when he was struck on the right hand by a sharply rising delivery from Hampshire's Australian pace bowler Stuart Clark.

Yorkshire physio Scott McAllister administered some on-field treatment during a five- minute break in play.

Vaughan, who scored 72 in the first innings, opted to carry on but after one more delivery from Clark and two at the other end from James Bruce, Vaughan walked off with out adding to his total.

Yorkshire's director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon confirmed Vaughan would need hospital attention.

Moxon said: “We are looking at him now but we will be sending him for an x-ray later tonight.

“We will have to wait until tomorrow to see how things develop.”

Michael Brown during his 105

Vaughan chose to play in the match to gain much-needed time in the middle in preparation for the first Test with the West Indies in two weeks’ time.

His injury overshadowed a fascinating struggle between two of the LV County Championship’s fancied sides.

Yorkshire ended a traumatic second day at 49 for two in their second innings, a narrow lead of 52.

In reply to Yorkshire's first innings total of 299 made on the first day, Hampshire were all out for 296 with Michael Brown top scoring with 105.

At one stage Hampshire were coasting at 158 for one before a brilliant catch down the leg side by wicket-keeper Gerard Brophy turned the match back in Yorkshire's direction.

Brophy took five catches; three of them off the bowling of Tim Bresnan as Hampshire's middle order fell away.

With leg spinner Adil Rashid getting through a mammoth afternoon spell, Hampshire fell away to 232 for eight until Nic Pothas nursed the tail to respectability.

Brown hit 15 boundaries and faced 159 balls in his second successive championship century of the season.

But Bresnan had him leg before on the back foot and Hampshire threatened to collapse until Pothas arrived on the scene.

Vaughan assesses the damage before leaving the field on Thursday evening

He helped Bruce add 43 for the ninth wicket and 21 for the last with James Tomlinson before Rashid deceived Tomlinson with a quicker delivery.

This left Pothas unbeaten on 70, an innings which included nine fours and a hooked six off Darren Gough which took him to his half-century.

Bresnan was the most successful of the Yorkshire bowlers taking 4-65 while Rashid, who got through almost 27 overs, finished with 2-79.

When Yorkshire batted again and Vaughan had left the field, Clark quickly dismissed Anthony McGrath and Joe Sayers to the match evenly balanced.

Yorkshire physio McAllister confirmed Vaughan would need further examination and treatment at hospital.

“It is the middle finger on his right hand, but we won't know any more about what has happened until much later tonight or even tomorrow when the swelling has gone down,” he said.