AUSTRALIAN Damien Martyn, who only two weeks' ago broke his nose while batting, returned for Yorkshire yesterday to thrash the fastest first class century of the season on his way to an epic record-breaking innings of 238 against Gloucestershire at Headingley.

Martyn received a prolonged standing ovation from the sun-basked crowd when he returned to the pavilion after playing one of the greatest innings in the history of the Championship.

His century came off a mere 63 balls with 15 fours and a six and will win him the Sir Walter Lawrence Trophy for the fastest century, beating the previous quickest by Nottinghamshire's Bilal Shafayat, which was scored from 73 deliveries against Durham UCCE.

Martyn's brilliance tended to put in the shade a superb innings of 116 from Matthew Wood, the pair setting a new fourth wicket record stand for Yorkshire of 330 in 55 overs.

It was also the highest Championship partnership for any wicket at Headingley and the 11th highest anywhere for any wicket for the county.

The end for Martyn came when he attempted to hit Alex Gidman over mid-wicket and was bowled after batting for 222 minutes during which he faced 159 balls and thrashed seven sixes and 38 fours.

His first 50 took him 33 balls with a six and ten fours; his second 32 balls with a further three sixes and five fours; his third 43 balls off which he added 11 fours and his fourth only 20 balls with another three sixes and six fours.

The speed with which he made his career-best score can be seen when compared to the double century for Yorkshire by his Australian Test colleague Darren Lehmann in the Roses match at Headingley in 2001.

Lehmann, no slouch himself, got to the 200 mark in 283 minutes from 239 balls with 28 fours and a six.

Martyn's 238 was the fifth highest Championship knock recorded at Headingley, the only bigger ones being 270 by Herbert Sutcliffe v Sussex in 1932, 267 not out by Wilfred Rhodes v Leicestershire in 1921, 252 by Lehmann v Lancashire in 2001, and 248 by Wilf Barber v Kent in 1934.

The pair set the new Yorkshire record for the fourth wicket when Wood planted Ian Harvey over mid-wicket for six to exceed the 312 between David Denton and George Hirst against Hampshire at Southampton in 1914.

There were many breathtaking moments in Martyn's innings but none more so than when he on-drove left-arm spinner Ian Fisher for two enormous sixes in the region of the old winter shed to complete his double century.

Wood's great supporting role ended the ball after tea from Gidman, which he edged to slip after striking 18 fours and two sixes off the 236 balls he received.

It was an astonishing day's cricket in a match which Yorkshire must win to gain promotion instead of Gloucestershire. Craig White was caught in the slips off the very first ball from Dewsbury seamer Mike Smith and after Martyn was out at 396-5, Yorkshire drifted to 476 all out in exactly 100 overs, Richard Dawson being unbeaten on 48.

Gloucestershire, needing 327 to avoid the follow on, batted for two overs and closed on five without loss.

Updated: 08:54 Thursday, September 18, 2003