Darren Lehmann's magical bat helped to smash all manner of records for Yorkshire on the second day of their Championship match against Durham at Headingley yesterday.

But the biggest prize of all eluded the great Australian on his farewell appearance for his adopted county when he was finally out for an astonishing 339 - Yorkshire's first triple century for 74 years.

It left him just three runs shy of the highest individual score ever made for Yorkshire in the club's 143-year history.

That honour is still held by Huddersfied-born George Hirst, who piled up 341 against Leicestershire in 1905.

The end came when a weary-looking Lehmann played across the line at New Zealand off-spinner Paul Wiseman and was bowled after a marathon stay at the crease of eight hours and three minutes.

He faced 403 balls, peppered the field with 52 fours and three sixes and dragged his way back to the pavilion with a dejected look on his face after coming so close to achieving Yorkshire's greatest batting feat of all time.

It was still an incredible innings which brought Lehmann the highest score of his career. Lehmann, who also beat Don Bradman's highest Headingley score of 334 in 1930, said afterwards: "I felt like I had been run over by a truck when I resumed in the morning and I am surprised I got as many as I did.

"I was made aware of the Hirst record score as I went on but I am not upset at not having overtaken it and I am rather surprised that 341 is Yorkshire's biggest innings."

Lehmann was already 261 and Michael Lumb 81 when Yorkshire resumed on a healthy 473 for three with their stand worth 299, and at 333 it became a county record for the fourth wicket, overtaking the 330 by Matthew Wood and Damian Martyn against Gloucestershire at Leeds in 2003.

With the stand worth a colossal 358 in 89 overs - Yorkshire's fifth highest for any wicket - Lumb was caught at second slip by Jimmy Maher off Ottis Gibson having spent 22 nervous deliveries on 98.

Even when Lehmann was out at 610 for seven Yorkshire pressed on until the declaration at 677 for seven - their highest score at Headingley - when Simon Guy had raced to a career-best 52 not out off just 43 deliveries.

Durham were left needing to score an unlikely 528 to avoid the follow-on, and with Deon Kruis shaking Durham with three wickets in four balls, they closed on 203 for six.