Darren Lehmann said farewell to Yorkshire with one of the most brilliant innings of his career at Headingley yesterday when he flogged Durham's bowling for an unbeaten 261 on the first day of the final Liverpool Victoria Championship match of the season.

Not only did Lehmann have the fans marvelling at his genius but he also virtually made sure that Yorkshire will escape relegation at the expense of Durham, who were unfortunate to come up against the Australian at his dazzling best.

Yorkshire were able to close on a massive 473 for three, which meant they had gained all five batting bonus points on offer while Durham had picked up only one bowling point.

If Yorkshire declare at any stage before losing nine wickets, it will deny Durham at least one bowling point and because they went into the game just half-a-point ahead of Yorkshire, it leaves them in a virtually hopeless situation.

Lehmann's epic innings has so far contained 43 fours and two sixes, and if he goes on to make 300 today he will become one of only five Yorkshire batsmen to hit a triple century, the last one being Herbert Sutcliffe with 313 against Essex at Leyton in 1932, when he put on a record 555 for the first wicket with Percy Holmes.

His stand with Michael Lumb, unbeaten on 81, stands at 299, the joint third highest for the fourth wicket in the club's history and a record by any county against Durham, and Lehmann has overtaken Yorkshire's previous highest score off Durham's attack of 177 by Michael Vaughan at Riverside in 1998.

As well as being Lehmann's 99th career century in all forms of cricket, it was also his 26th first-class century for Yorkshire and his sixth of the summer - the highest number he has made in a season since arriving at Headingley in 1997 for the first of his seven seasons with the club.

His double century was his fourth for Yorkshire and he has already made his highest score, beating his 252 against Lancashire at Headingley in 2001.

Winning the toss, Yorkshire had lost openers Craig White and Joe Sayers with only 43 scored but as soon as Lehmann arrived they bossed the re-mainder of the day's play.

He and Anthony McGrath added 131 in only 23 overs for the third wicket, and McGrath was just as sprightly as his partner, slamming Gary Scott for four consecutive boundaries. But after making 62 from 79 balls with a dozen fours, he pulled a long hop from Graham Onions into his stumps.

In came Lumb at 174 for three and he was quite happy to be overshadowed by Lehmann, who caressed the ball to all parts of the ground.

Lehmann went to his century with his 14th four and he also helped himself to four consecutive boundaries, this time off Gareth Breese.

His 150 arrived with his 27th four, and after swatting Ottis Gibson for six to raise the 300, he went to his double century with a straight six off New Zealander Paul Wiseman.

His only chance came at 202 when he was put down by Dale Benkenstein at backward point. Soon afterwards Lumb moved quietly to his 50 off 140 balls with five boundaries.

Lehmann said: "I think that must rank as one of my best ever innings, particularly in the circumstances of trying to save Yorkshire from relegation. I would like to pay tribute to both Anthony McGrath and Michael Lumb who gave me such excellent support."