Cricket: Yorkshire in a spin

NICKY PHILLIPS, the Durham off-spinner bowled unchanged for 42 overs at Chester-Le-Street yesterday to take a career-best four for 70 in the County Championship match against Yorkshire.

Following his captain David Boon's marathon innings of 139 not out, Phillips was on in the 10th over as Yorkshire replied to Durham's 337 with 235 for 8.

The depleted visitors were indebted to opener Michael Vaughan, who batted for 332 minutes to make 118 not out. He hit just six fours, most of them during an opening stand of 62 with Anthony McGrath. Vaughan now has the chance to become the first Yorkshire player to carry his bat since Geoff Boycott made 55 out of 131 against Surrey at Sheffield in 1985.

Phillips, whose confidence was boosted by the early scalp of Darren Lehmann, found enough turn to keep all the batsmen tied down