Darren Lehmann posted another personal batting record for Yorkshire in the Roses match at Headingley yesterday - but it would not have been possible without assistance from his former captain, David Byas.

In a day restricted to 48 overs by heavy rain in mid-afternoon, Yorkshire recovered to 163 for two with Lehmann's unbeaten 68 being his seventh consecutive score of 50 or more in the Championship.

The Australian's previous best sequence in his five seasons with Yorkshire was six in 2000 and he would have stuck on that amount this time if Byas had not put him down at first slip when he stood on 22.

The chance was not difficult as far as slip catches go but the ball just slipped through Byas's usually reliable fingers.

Even in his days with Yorkshire, however, Byas had a tendency to drop the sitters and hold on to the spectacular ones.

Byas knows better than anyone that you cannot afford to give Lehmann even half a chance and the Yorkshireman was soon regretting his lapse as Lehmann and Anthony McGrath eased the White Rose side out of their early difficulties with an unbroken third wicket stand of 139 in 35 overs.

Like Lehmann, McGrath is in prime form at the moment and his 55 not out was his third half-century within a week, following on the heels of his 59 for Yorkshire Phoenix against Somerset Sabres at Scarborough last Sunday and his match-winning 72 in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy quarter-final at Chelmsford on Tuesday.

Events turned out far better for Yorkshire than they could have anticipated when they slipped to 24 for two after winning the toss and batting first when it was questionable whether it was wise to do so.

The ball swung and seamed under leaden skies and in a heavy atmosphere and Peter Martin caused all sorts of problems with the new ball.

The spotlight turned on Byas as early as the fifth over when Matthew Wood edged Martin and Byas appeared to take a good catch at ankle height at first slip.

But the umpires gave him not out.