MICHAEL Vaughan hit an unblemished century crammed with magical strokes to propel Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the Benson and Hedges Cup with a sparkling eight wicket victory over Somerset at Taunton yesterday.

The Tykes now meet one day kings Gloucester at Headingley on June 25, while in the semi-final Surrey play Nottinghamshire at The Foster's Oval.

Vaughan's amazing 125 not out gave him his first century in one-day cricket and it was a gold award winning performance which stood head and shoulders above anything else the other five England stars on show could manage.

Even Darren Lehmann was happy to play a supporting role as Vaughan tore Somerset's attack to ribbons.

The winning run appropriately, it came off Andy Caddick, who Vaughan had earlier treated with elegant contempt while getting his innings off to a rapid start.

Somerset's total of 210 for seven was made to look completely inadequate by Vaughan who dashed to his century off 112 balls with 15 boundaries. By the time Yorkshire were home with 13.2 overs to spare, Vaughan had smacked a further three fours and a six and faced a total of 128 deliveries.

It was Lehmann who concluded the match with his sixth four in a 60-ball half century and his unbroken third wicket stand with Vaughan was worth 140 in 23 overs.

A delighted Vaughan said after receiving the gold award: "Playing for England has certainly given me added confidence. I think I have batted pretty well for the past couple of years and to get a century today was icing on the cake.

"I have been dying to get a one-day century and I was very disappointed to get out for 92 against Leicestershire in the group stages of the B&H. My record with Yorkshire in one-day cricket is not great but this is the first year I have opened the innings on a regular basis and you know where you are going when you bat first."

In glorious weather and in front of a packed house, Vaughan refused to be intimated and began by striking Steffan Jones over mid-wicket with a powerful blow.

Yorkshire were already 34 by the fifth over when David Byas edged Caddick to Peter Bowler at slip.

Matthew Wood contributed seven to a 29 stand with Vaughan before being lbw hitting across the line at Jason Kerr but this was Somerset's last success, their seven-man attack being ripped apart by the third wicket pair.

The ease with which Yorkshire were to cruise into the semi-finals was not apparent when Somerset, having won the toss, stood on 131 for one in 31 overs.

But the soft dismissal of captain Jamie Cox for 62 off a Lehmann full toss destroyed Somerset's self belief and Yorkshire bowled so well that only a further 79 runs came off the last 20 overs.