The new West Stand at Headingley, operational for the first time for the one-day international between England and Pakistan on June 17, will be shut again for Yorkshire's semi-final clash with Gloucestershire in the Benson and Hedges Cup eight days later, writes David Warner.

This will result in the ground capacity being slashed from 14,000 to around 6,000 with the strong possibility of supply not being able to meet demand from fans eager to watch the crunch match.

The reason for the closure is because the West Stand development will not be fully completed until the fourth Test between England and Australia starting on August 16.

The stand will be in use for the one-day international but temporary toilet facilities are being installed and will be taken out again immediately after the match is over.

Yorkshire chief executive Chris Hassell said: "If the Yorkshire game had been the following day then we could have managed but cost and time are against us.

"We cannot afford to lose over a week's work on the West Stand, otherwise it would not be fully operational for the Test match, and the temporary facilities cannot be kept in place for a further eight days.

"Hopefully, we will be able to accommodate everyone who wants to watch the semi-final and there will be designated reserve seats which cost £16 for adults and £8 for pensioners and children. It is an all-pay game and Yorkshire members will have priority on bookings until June 1."

Yorkshire had an offer from Scarborough chief executive Cec Snell to take the match to North Marine Road but it was felt a majority of fans would prefer the game to be played at Headingley.

Scarborough, however, could house a crowd of around 11,000 and with the holiday season in full swing there would have been the strong possibility of a bumper gate.

Those Yorkshire fans unfortunate enough to miss Michael Vaughan's epic Benson and Hedges Cup innings earlier in the week were treated to a repeat performance at Headingley yesterday when he plundered a dazzling 133 on the first day of the Cricinfo Championship match with Northamptonshire.

Against Somerset at Taunton, Vaughan stroked an unbeaten 125 to see Yorkshire through to the semi-finals, an innings which was to earn him a place in England's squad for the forthcoming series of one-day internationals.

His selection was announced as he walked to the crease yesterday and he celebrated with a peerless exhibition of batting which contained 18 fours and a six - exactly the same number of boundaries that he managed at Taunton.

The only difference was that in the one-day game he faced 128 balls while on this occasion he had the time for a more measured approach, receiving 248 deliveries before he was surprised by low bounce and missed an intended pull at Darren Cousins and had his bails trimmed.

Yorkshire finished the day on 300 for 5 thanks to an unbroken sixth wicket stand of 70 between Michael Lumb and Gary Fellows.

Lumb, on his home Championship debut, pulled John Blain fearlessly for six and later hit the seamer for three consecutive fours to finish on 42 with Fellows also batting attractively for his unbeaten 26.

Darren Lehmann is not playing because of a neck injury which has meant a recall for Craig White.

Scoreboard

CricInfo Championship

(first day of four)

Division One

Yorkshire v Northamptonshire

(at Headingley)

Yorkshire First Innings

Richardson c G P Swann b Penberthy 12

Vaughan b Cousins 133

Wood b Innes 44

White c Hussey b Cousins 20

Byas b Cousins 5

Lumb not out 42

Fellows not out 26

Extras lb8 w10 18

Total 5 wkts (104 overs) 300

Fall: 1-38 2-181 3-221 4-227 5-230

Bowling: Cousins 25-5-74-3, Blain 17-2-62-0, Penberthy 22-6-62-1, G P Swann 18-4-41-0, Innes 20-5-47-1, A J Swann 2-1-6-0.

Swansea: Kent 252 (M J Walker 112) v Glamorgan 42-4 (20 overs).

The Oval: Surrey 393-6 (A Stewart 96, 104 overs) v Essex.

Division Two

Derby: Hampshire 344-6 (W Kendall 94, L Prittipaul 84, D Kenway 57, 104 overs) v Derbyshire.

Bristol: Worcestershire 298-6 (W Weston 83, A Bichel 71, 104 overs) v Gloucestershire.

Lord's: Nottinghamshire 409-8 (K Pieterson 135no, P Franks 85, 104 overs)v Middlesex.

Hove: Warwickshire 281-3 (M Powell 93, M Wagh 78no) (106 overs) v Sussex.

Updated: 11:31 Saturday, May 26, 2001