Cricket statisticians found themselves in seventh heaven at Headingley where Anthony McGrath and Phil Jaques posted all sorts of records for Yorkshire during a massive stand of 310 for the third wicket in the Championship match against Derbyshire.

Jaques blasted an unbeaten 217 and McGrath hit 134, Yorkshire going on to close the first day completely in control at 419-3.

The pair came together in the 11th over after openers Matthew Wood and Joe Sayers had both departed with only 29 runs scored and for the next 71 overs they pierced the field with glorious strokes to all parts.

Their stand was Yorkshire's highest ever for the third wicket against Derbyshire, overtaking the unbroken 293 between Ashley Metcalfe and Phil Robinson at Scarborough in 1990.

It was also the third highest for the third wicket against any opponents and the second highest for any wicket off Derbyshire's attack, beaten only by Jack Brown and John Tunnicliffe's 554 for the first wicket at Chesterfield in 1898.

When Jaques passed 180, he became the first Yorkshire batsman this season to reach 1,000 first-class runs and his double century was his second for his adopted county and his fifth in all.

McGrath takes to Derbyshire's bowling like a duck to water and his century was his third in consecutive Championship innings against the Peakites. Last summer he rapped out 174 at Derby in the second innings and followed up with 109 at Headingley.

Jaques was blessed with one piece of good luck because when he had made 21 he was badly dropped at first slip by Steve Stubbings off Nick Walker.

But he was never troubled again until he gave a sharp return chance to left-arm spinner Ant Botha, which the bowler could not cling on to high above his head.

The best strokes early on were played by McGrath, who struck two sparkling fours through the covers off consecutive balls from Jon Moss to go to 51 off as many balls, but Jaques dazzled after the lunch interval and left his partner in the shade.

The Australian left-hander added 114 to his score during the afternoon session which was exactly twice as many as McGrath, who went into his shell in the mid-80s and survived a return catch to Graeme Welch on 92, the bowler seeming surprised when a leading edge lobbed back in his direction. He got to the ball but could not grasp it a second time when it bounced out of his hands.

McGrath and Jaques were only 14 runs away from setting a new record against any county for the fourth wicket when McGrath dragged Botha to mid-on where Nick Walker took the catch. He had faced 237 balls and lashed 19 fours.

Jaques reached three figures off 126 deliveries with 19 fours and his double century contained 31 fours and a six and came off 228 deliveries.

With McGrath gone, Ian Harvey assisted Jaques in keeping the score moving and maximum batting bonus points were secured for only the second time this season when Yorkshire reached 400-3 in the 99th over.

Harvey was 39 not out at the close and he belted the last two balls of the day from Ian Hunter for fours to hurry the fourth wicket stand on to 80.

l Former Yorkshire strike bowlers Steve Kirby and Darren Gough were both in the wickets yesterday.

Kirby bagged 2-38 to help Gloucestershire peg back hosts Sussex to 97-4 from 30 overs at a rain-hit Hove in their division one fixture.

Meanwhile, in division two, Gough returned even more impressive figures.

The veteran's 2-7 haul from 3.4 overs left home outfit Leicestershire reeling at 12-2 at Grace Road in reply to the Essex first innings total of 297.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, July 27, 2005