Lumb on the offensive as Yorkshire launch their campaign

Yorkshire launched their National League campaign with an emphatic six-wicket win against Warwickshire at Edgbaston yesterday as Michael Lumb hit 61 from 40 balls.

Anthony McGrath's men held the home side to a rain-interrupted 158 for nine and, after a Duckworth-Lewis adjustment, Yorkshire needed only to equal that total to prevail with seven overs to spare.

Left-hander Lumb made light work of the target in an innings featuring three consecutive fours off Neil Carter, sixes off Dougie Brown and Carter, and three more boundaries in an over off Nick Warren.

Elsewhere in the First Division, Kent disposed of Leicestershire with a comfortable 54-run win at Canterbury. A victory target of 255, set thanks largely to Matthew Walker's unbeaten 82 and a 41 from Mark Ealham off just 26 balls, became increasingly remote for the visitors as wicket-keeper, Geraint Jones claimed a competition record-equalling six catches.

At Bristol, a half century by Graeme Hick eased Worcestershire to a 35-run win over Gloucestershire under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Gloucestershire, last season's Second Division champions, managed only 143 in difficult batting conditions as Australian pace bowler Matt Mason took the bowling honours with four for 35. Then, after the early loss of Kadeer Ali, Hick and Vikram Solanki shared a second-wicket stand of 65 to keep Worcestershire on course. Hick was unbeaten on 52 when rain brought play to an end with Worcestershire on 98 for two from 24.4 overs.