Cricket: Lehmann enlivens Yorkshire

Round-up

Australia may have had a miserable time of it at Headingley in the one- day international against England yesterday, but one of their fellow countrymen had reason to celebrate.

Darren Lehmann celebrated his first century for Yorkshire on another rain-ruined day at Taunton. The 27-year-old Australian was unbeaten on 109 as his team progressed to 183 for five off 58 overs against Somerset after a saturated outfield had prevented any play until 2.45pm, when Yorkshire resumed on 52 for three.

Anthony McGrath soon fell to Kevin Shine for 11 and when Craig White was bowled by a fine delivery from Andy Caddick for the same score, the visitors were struggling at 122 for five. But Lehmann dug in to produce a stirring innings in miserable conditions. He reached his half century in two hours and needed a further 83 minutes to reach three figures.

By the time bad light finally ended play at 5.20pm, he had added 85 to his overnight score off 36 overs, a remarkable feat in the gloomy conditions.

Robin Smith recorded the highest championship score by a Hampshire batsman this season as rain and bad light once more ensured a truncated day at a cold and dismal Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The former England batsman hit an unbeaten 81 and shared in an unbroken third-wicket stand of 132 with Kevan James.

The off-spinner Adrian Pierson bowled Leicestershire into a commanding position against Surrey and so justified James Whitaker's decision to field after winning the toss at Grace Road. In an unbroken spell of 28 overs Pierson took four for 42 as Surrey struggled to 235 for eight off 96 overs by the close. With the first day lost to the weather, it is already looking as though declarations might well be needed to produce a positive result.