Yorkshire were forced to leave Michael Vaughan out of tonight's Twenty20 Cup defeat against Durham at the Riverside because the ECB wanted him to rest ahead of next month’s Test series with South Africa.

The 33-year-old England Test skipper was replaced by Adam Lyth as the Tykes went down by 39 runs under the Duckworth Lewis method in pursuit of 163 as their quarter-final qualification hopes took a blow.

Yorkshire’s reply was actually halted for bad light and very light drizzle with the score at 49 for five after ten overs.

Vaughan, who had featured in each of Yorkshire’s previous seven games, played in a Professional Cricketers’ Association Golf Day at Hanbury Manor in Hertfordshire on Monday.

Yorkshire chief executive Stewart Regan said: “We have been asked by the ECB to rest Michael to give him more time to prepare ahead of the South Africa series.

“We will make a decision later in the week as to whether he will play against Leicestershire on Thursday.”

An ECB spokesperson said last night: “Michael did agree with the England management that he would sit out this game with his preparation more focused on four-day cricket in the lead-up to the South Africa Test series.”

The spokesperson added that it is unlikely he will play any further part in the White Rose county’s remaining two 20-over games.

The Tykes had actually done pretty well in the field, after captain Darren Gough elected to bowl first, restricting the hosts to 162 for eight.

Phil Mustard got the hosts off to a flyer with a 37-ball 49, including four fours and two sixes, but Rich Pyrah and Gough slowed them up.

Pyrah continued his spark-ling form with the ball as he picked up three for 32 from his four overs, while Gough finished with two for 28.

Durham actually slumped from 123 for three in the 14th over to 162 for eight at the end of their allotted 20. They lost five wickets in the last six overs. But that was absolutely nothing compared to the Tykes collapse in reply.

Adil Rashid, promoted to open the innings, was run out for a duck in the first over.

England bowler Steve Harmison then took two for seven from two overs in desperately bad light, getting rid of Lyth and Bresnan.

Shaun Pollock and Liam Plunkett also grabbed a wicket each, while Jacques Rudolph was 22 not out.

At least the White Rose were given some consolatory news from Grace Road as rock-bottom Leicestershire won their first match against Nottinghamshire by five runs.

Yorkshire, who surely have to win their last two games, play Leicestershire at Headingley on Thursday.

Graham Napier rewrote the record books by hitting the most sixes in a Twenty20 innings on his way to the highest individual score in the Twenty20 Cup.

The Essex batsman hit 16 sixes and ten fours as he finished on 152 not out off just 58 balls in his side’s match with Sussex last night.