David Warner on Yorkshire

Yorkshire were blasted by Gloucestershire seamer Jon Lewis who captured three wickets and then had Richard Harden retiring hurt with a bad blow on the left hand in an eventful first hour's play at Headingley today.

When Harden departed for an X-ray, Yorkshire were 41 for three which meant their overall lead was 154 and they were still reasonably placed on what was looking an increasingly difficult pitch.

Having established a comfortable first innings lead of 113 yesterday, thanks to the all-round exploits of Gavin Hamilton, Yorkshire resumed on 14 without loss but Australian Greg Blewett managed to add only three to his overnight nine before he was unable to avoid contact with a ball which seamed away from Lewis and Jack Russell held a comfortable catch.

It was a similar dismissal to the one which accounted for Blewett for six in the first innings when Mike Smith was the bowler.

With rain already affecting other matches and spreading north, Yorkshire were keen to make progress but skipper David Byas was fortunate to survive his second ball from Lewis which spiralled off the shoulder of his bat and over the top of the slips for four.

Byas quickly got into double figures but it was turning into a disappointing game for Michael Vaughan as well as Blewett and the England 'A' captain also fell victim to Lewis when he shuffled across his stumps and was pinned lbw for three, making Yorkshire 32 for two.

Matthew Wood was greeted with a painful blow on the thigh by Lewis but Byas steered Smith to the third man boundary. Lewis, however, remained the danger man and it was quite a while before Wood managed a legside single to get off the mark.

Hopes of a big contribution from Byas vanished as Lewis struck again with the score on 37, Byas shaping to play to leg but bobbing a gentle return catch instead.

Harden had got off the mark with an edged four off Lewis he was struck painfully on the left hand by a spiteful delivery in the same over and had to go off.

Suddenly, Yorkshire were in some difficulties and careful application was required by Wood and Craig White to see off Lewis who was finally rested after taking three for 19 in nine overs. He was replaced by skipper Mark Alleyne and White eased the pressure by smacking him through the covers for four.

The skies were dulling over and play continued with light rain falling, eventually, after 30 overs with Yorkshire on 71-1 - a lead of 184 - the players came off.

Yorkshire were yesterday put into a commanding position by Hamilton who first knocked up his career best score of 81 not out with ten boundaries and then shattered Gloucestershire after a solid start by snatching four wickets for two runs in 16 deliveries.

From 50 for one, Gloucestershire slumped to 65 for six and were in danger of following on until Matt Windows and Jack Russell briefly revived their fortunes, but then White came on to polish off the tail and they were all out for 169 in 42.2 overs.

Yorkshire at next month's First Class Forum are expected to vote against a plan to bring in a 25-overs competition next season, but they will vote in favour of the Benson and Hedges Cup returning to its original format.

Cricket chairman Bob Platt said a 25-overs competition would do nothing to raise standards and would increase the risk of injuries.

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