Yorkshire had no answer to a record-breaking score by Leeds-born batsman Iain Sutcliffe in the one-day Roses friendly at Old Trafford yesterday, and they went down in front of a large crowd by the uncomfortable margin of 119 runs.

There were extenuating circumstances, however, this being Yorkshire's first game against county opposition in their run-up to the new season whereas Lancashire are fresh from a successful tour of South Africa where they won every match.

The left-handed Sutcliffe was straight out of the blocks after Yorkshire had inserted their opponents and he caused mayhem right up to the penultimate ball of the 50-over innings when he holed out for 152 from 151 deliveries with 16 fours and four sixes.

It was the biggest knock ever made in a one-day match by a Lancashire batsmen, overtaking the previous best of 144 by Andy Flintoff.

Vic Craven suffered Yorkshire's worst figures of 1-73, the medium-pacer falling victim to some of Sutcliffe's best-timed drives, but all six of the bowlers managed to keep a brake on the remaining batsmen, the second top score being Alec Swann's 42.

Yorkshire will be encouraged that Craig White felt fit enough to give himself a five-over bowling stint but his otherwise tidy figures were marred by Swann who slammed him for four fours and a two in one over which also gave away four leg-byes.

Matthew Wood and White made a promising start as Yorkshire replied to a formidable 297-5 before Wood was plucked out of the sky at mid-on by Dominic Cork and White drove stylishly to cover point but straight into the hands of Sutcliffe.

Chris Taylor and Andrew Gale did themselves a power of good with a sensible third-wicket stand of 51 but both got out to another Yorkshireman in left-arm spinner Gary Keedy who learned his trade at the Yorkshire Academy.

The impetus was lost once these two had gone and Yorkshire surrendered rather too tamely with four full overs to spare, Keedy finishing with 3-42.

Updated: 10:21 Thursday, April 15, 2004