Darren Lehmann showed few signs of travel weariness when he took charge of Yorkshire once again and led Phoenix to victory by 30 runs over Durham Dynamos at Riverside in the Norwich Union National League, writes David Warner.

Lehmann only arrived in England on Friday after almost three weeks back home playing for Australia in their three one-day internationals against Pakistan.

But he was his usual energetic self at the crease while plundering 70 out of Yorkshire's 269 for five.

He then took two crucial catches and a couple of wickets for good measure as Durham finished on 239 for nine after a valiant attempt to reach a stiff target.

Lehmann hit a century and two half-centuries for Yorkshire immediately before returning home and this latest knock continued his outstanding success in the league, which has now brought him 243 runs in three innings for an average of 121.5.

Winning the toss, Yorkshire were soon off to an excellent start with opener Craig White happy to play second fiddle during a second-wicket stand of 71 in only nine overs with Chris Silverwood starring in his pinch-hitter's role.

Silverwood blazed his way to 58 off just 32 balls with 11 fours and a six, many of his boundaries coming from fierce hits over mid-wicket, and it was in attempting another blow through that area that he was bowled by a fuller delivery from Mark Davies.

Lehmann soon announced himself with a sizzling straight six off spinner Graeme Bridge and after White had gone for 32 the captain settled into a productive partnership with Anthony McGrath which raised 75 in 16 overs before McGrath was needlessly run out.

Lehmann maintained the tempo in a 50 stand in six overs with Michael Lumb but just when a century appeared in sight he skied Neil Killeen to deep mid-wicket where he was stunningly caught over his shoulder by Gordon Muchall, his 70 having come off 63 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Tim Bresnan claimed Durham's first two wickets, though not before Muchall had shown bags of talent for a 19-year-old with some glorious shots, and when Marc Symington was caught behind off White's quicker delivery Durham were struggling on 64-3.

But opener Gary Pratt and skipper Jon Lewis brought the home side back into the game with an 83-stand in 13 overs. It took a sensational catch by Lehmann at short extra cover to get rid of Lewis for 37 off Dawson.

The same combination brought another important wicket when Pratt lofted a drive to mid-on.

Dawson snapped two further wickets to give him career-best figures of 4-37 but Andrew Pratt cheerfully hit his way to 32 and although a Durham win was out of the question, Killeen and Nicky Hatch smacked an unbroken 45.

Updated: 12:32 Monday, June 24, 2002