Australia captain Steve Waugh warmed up for the Ashes series with a resolute century at Yorkshire's expense in the final Championship match of the season at Headingley yesterday, writes David Warner.

In an innings of contrasting moods, Waugh held Kent together with an unbeaten 136, easily his best knock since joining the county in the latter part of the summer.

It was also his first ton since his heroic 157 in the fifth Test at The Oval last year.

Waugh had previously managed only 78 runs for Kent in five innings but his mastery left Kent on 332 for six when bad light stopped play.

He looked out of touch while taking time to settle in and was troubled after lunch during a great spell from Ryan Sidebot-tom but in between he played some cracking shots, including three consecutive fours off Ant-hony McGrath, who had earlier bowled a fine nine-over stint for 16 runs in which he claimed the wicket of David Fulton.

Needing a win to get off the bottom, Yorkshire put Kent in and Steven Kirby soon ripped out Rob Key's off-stump.

McGrath came on to have Fulton caught behind by Richard Blakey, standing up to the stumps, and Waugh could have been out straight away but his thick edge off young Nick Thornicroft sped for four.

Having bowled well, Kirby's figures were spoiled by Ed Smith, who thumped him for three fours and he was taken off after his last two overs cost 30 runs. Sidebottom returned and in a superb over trapped Smith lbw for 67 off 95 balls with 11 fours and had Paul Nixon dropped at first slip.

Sidebottom remained on song after lunch and his footwork brought Yorkshire's next wicket as Nixon went for a single and Sidebottom charged down the pitch to stab the ball into the stumps.

Sidebottom then had Mark Ealham taken low at slip and Kent may have been finished off if Min Patel had not batted with similar flair to Waugh in a 101 stand for the sixth wicket.

After hurrying to a 66-ball half-century with his ninth boundary, Patel missed a sweep at Richard Dawson and was lbw but Waugh progressed to his century off 194 deliveries with 14 fours.

James Tredwell partnered Waugh in an unbroken 99 stand, Waugh brightening up the increasing gloom by smacking Dawson into the West Stand.

With Kent pressing for second place they ignored five lights on the meter until they felt content with their day's work, Waugh walking off with 17 fours and a six off his 234 balls.

Yorkshire have terminated the contract of commercial director Tony Panaro, who has not been seen at Headingley for several weeks.

SCOREBOARD

Frizzell County Championship Division One

Yorkshire v Kent

at Headingley Yorkshire Won Toss

Kent First Innings Close

Fulton c Blakey b McGrath 16

Key b Kirby 1

Smith lbw b Sidebottom 67

Waugh not out 136

Nixon run out 5

Ealham c Richardson b Sidebottom 6

Patel lbw b Dawson 52

Tredwell not out 37

Extras b1 lb7 w2 nb2 12

Total 6 wkts (95 overs) 332

Fall: 1-5 2-49 3-105 4-114 5-132 6-233

Bowling: Kirby 21-5-86-1 Sidebottom 19-5-41-2 Thornicroft 15-2-54-0 McGrath 22-6-81-1 Dawson 18-5-62-1

Taunton: Somerset 221 (61.4 overs) v Lancashire 88-6 (29 overs).

The Oval: Surrey 397-3 (93.1 overs, Newman 183, I Ward 118, Batty 74).

Hove: Sussex 352 (95.1overs; Goodwin 93, Innes 60no; Brown 5-103) v Warwickshire 20-0 (6 overs)

Division Two

Chelmsford: Notts 341 (86.5ov Afzaal 134, Read 73) v Essex 2-0 (1.3ov). *Essex promoted.

Cardiff: Glamkorgan 348 (Powell 113, Croft 59, Maynard 50; Innes 7-90) v Northants 3-0 (1 over)

Bristol: Durham 216 (68.3 overs; Hodge 73) v Gloucs 144-4 (34.5 overs; Spearmen 80)

New Road: Derbyshire 246 (Gait 58, Kerr 54, Sutton 51; Batty 5-60) v Worcs 52-1 (10.2 overs).

Updated: 11:34 Thursday, September 19, 2002