White and Wood destroy Lancashire in Roses game

Craig White and Matthew Wood battered Lancashire in the Old Trafford Roses game with an opening stand of 309 in 65 overs.

It was the second highest first-wicket partnership in Roses history behind the 323 of Holmes and Sutcliffe for Yorkshire at Sheffield in 1931.

And it came after Lancashire captain John Crawley had won the toss, asking Yorkshire to bat. The response of White and Wood was to plunge Lancashire into deeper trouble in their first game since coach Bob Simpson announced that he would be quitting the club when his two-year contract finishes at the end of the season.

Table-toppers Yorkshire left out Michael Vaughan who had declared himself fit after a six weeks lay-off due to knee trouble and then showed that they did not need him against a Lancashire attack who bowled poorly without the injured Peter Martin.

White, whose England place is under threat, responded to the pressure by racing to his second Roses century off only 94 balls with a six and 17 fours. He cracked two more sixes on his way to 150.

Wood's 100 came in 185 balls with 11 fours and the pair were in sight of Holmes and Sutcliffe when paceman Mike Smethurst had Lancashire's first success of the day in the 65th over, winning an lbw decision against Wood on 115.

Smethurst struck again shortly afterwards to remove Anthony McGrath but White finished unbeaten on 179 - two short of his career best - with Yorkshire 358-2 from just 76 overs.