YORKSHIRE'S 33-run victory over Northamptonshire in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at Headingley has set up the mouth-watering prospect of the first ever Roses cup final at Lord's.

But for that to happen, Yorkshire must now beat Hampshire in their semi-final match at the Rose Bowl on August 20 and on the same day Lancashire need to overcome Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Yorkshire would appear to have the harder task because Hampshire managed to hit the highest-ever C&G winning score of 359-8 to beat Surrey in their quarter-final tie.

But both Yorkshire and Lancashire have a greater incentive than either of their opponents because a Roses final would pack Lord's and would be an appropriate showpiece end to knockout county cricket.

The Benson and Hedges Cup no longer exists and from next year the C&G Trophy will have two regional groups of ten with the final being contested by the teams which finish top of each group.

Man of the match against Northamptonshire was Michael Lumb, who top scored with 89.

Lumb, who was axed from Yorkshire's last Championship match, said: "I was able to get off to a flier but they then bowled pretty well and Ian Harvey and I had to consolidate for a while."

Updated: 10:10 Monday, July 18, 2005