Yorkshire reach quarter-finals with victory over Durham

Darren Lehmann scooped his third gold award in eight days to set up Yorkshire for victory by 30 runs over Durham at Headingley in the Benson and Hedges Cup.

Both sides left the ground content with their day's work, however, because both qualified for the quarter-finals, Durham filling second place in their group and Yorkshire scraping through in third place on run-rate.

Durham's reward is a visit to Bristol to take on title-holders Gloucestershire while Yorkshire meet Somerset down the road at Taunton.

Lehmann's dazzling 88 off 77 balls with 11 fours and two sixes was packed with astonishing strokes and it ensured Yorkshire a healthy total of 257 for seven after being put in to bat.

Skipper David Byas and Michael Vaughan gave Yorkshire the solid start they needed with an opening stand of 71 but it was Anthony McGrath and Lehmann who piled the pressure on Durham with a 114 partnership for the third wicket.

McGrath was then out for 43 but Lehmann continued his spree until he denied himself a century by clipping Danny Law to Paul Collingwood at mid-wicket. The Australian suffered a slight hamstring strain during his innings but should be fit for Wednesday's CricInfo Championship clash with Somerset at Headingley.

Despite Yorkshire's aggressive approach, 20-year-old Ian Hunter finished with the excellent figures of four for 48 off his ten overs.

Durham's top priority when they batted was not to win the game but to make sure of reaching 193, which would lift them above Yorkshire even if they lost.

They went about their work with great confidence, despite opener Jimmy Daley having to hobble off with a hamstring injury when 14, and they were held together for 31 overs by Michael Gough who scored 58 with five fours before falling to a boundary catch off Vaughan, having survived a similar chance earlier on.

With 193 safely achieved, Jon Lewis and Law were able to breath more easily and at the close their unbroken fifth wicket stand was worth 101, Law leading the way with 57 from just 43 balls with eight fours and two sixes while Lewis managed 45 from 59 deliveries with six boundaries.