Michael Vaughan turned in two five-star performances at Grace Road yesterday but Yorkshire still managed to commit suicide and crash to a shock defeat by 14 runs against Leicestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup.
Yorkshire appeared to have victory in the bag at 156 for two as they chased a 225 target but gold medal winner James Ormond then trudged back on to the field with his leg strapped up after tearing a hamstring in his second over.
He carved his way through the batting with a four for 19 burst in 38 balls to snatch a gold award which had looked to have Vaughan's name stamped upon it.
Ormond's blast came as Yorkshire got the jitters and lost their last eight wickets for 47 runs to finish on 210 all out, Leicestershire winning with nine balls to spare.
As well as severely damaging Yorkshire's chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals, the defeat was a big blow for Vaughan after enjoying such a brilliant match.
First he returned his competition best figures of four for 46 to put the brake on Leicestershire just when their innings was starting to career out of control.
Then, in poor light and with drizzle in the air, Vaughan hit a scorching 92 to record the highest one-day knock of his career.
It was an all-round performance of England class and Vaughan probably had one eye on the first Test against Pakistan for which the side will be selected on Sunday week.
Vaughan is always composed and elegant at the crease but on this occasion he also displayed an aggressive side to his nature, striking the ball with great power and perfect timing.
He made mincemeat of Devon Malcolm with several vicious cuts and he had taken seven boundaries off him and was going for an eighth when he was stunningly caught at backward point by Dan Marsh off a full blooded slash.
Vaughan had faced 88 balls and he was so much in control that upon his dismissal at 137 for two he had hit all but one of the 16 boundaries registered at that stage.
The other came from Anthony McGrath who partnered him in a 90 stand for the second wicket in 19 overs and went on make a gritty 46 before becoming one of Ormond's victims as Yorkshire completely lost their cool.
Darren Lehmann unwound himself so far in trying to hit Ormond to long leg that his mistimed shot finished up in Neil Burns' gloves down the off-side and Michael Lumb was fourth out edging the seamer to the wicketkeeper.
McGrath was turned round by Ormond and caught at short cover and Richard Blakey departed in a run mix-up before James Middlebrook fell lbw to Vince Wells who in the same over had Chris Silverwood snapped up at mid-on.
Gary Fellows chopped Ormond into his stumps and Yorkshire's demise was complete when Ryan Sidebottom turned Wells to leg in the penultimate over, went for a single and was going for a second until he slipped and fell. Tom Baker frantically tried to regain his crease but could not beat Aftab Habib's throw.
Put in to bat, Leicestershire made rapid progress with a 119 stand in 29 overs for the second wicket between Wells (76) and Ben Smith (50) but the Foxes were stopped in their tracks by Vaughan who pegged them back with his off-spinners.
Leicestershire included York's Scott Boswell in their side.
Updated: 11:48 Friday, May 04, 2001
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