Chris Taylor, who left Yorkshire under a cloud towards the end of last season because he could not gain a regular first team place, made the perfect return to Headingley yesterday when he scored a faultless century against his old team-mates.

The former Bradford League batsman, who topped their averages last season for East Bierley, hit exactly 100 to bring his new club, Derbyshire, victory by 21 runs in the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy.

Largely through Taylor's efforts, Derbyshire reached a challenging 251 for six after being put in to bat and the target was too steep for Yorkshire who never really managed to get their noses in front.

Taylor holed out to Darren Lehmann the ball after completing his century from 124 balls with five fours and two sixes, but by then Derbyshire were in the penultimate over of their innings.

Taylor, who kissed the Derbyshire badge on his shirt on reaching three figures, had still not finished giving Yorkshire grief because he went on to take a stunning catch at extra cover to send back Richard Dawson when the game was nearing its close.

A delighted Taylor said: "I will remember this day for the rest of my life. I was pretty nervous coming back to Headingley and going out to bat after an early wicket had gone down but I couldn't have written a better script.

"This was the first time I have ever batted at number three in a one-day match and it was new territory but I managed to settle in and play a few shots.

"I wanted to prove a point or two to some of the Yorkshire people and I think I managed to do that. I was associated with Yorkshire from the age of 16 to 24 and made some good friends but in the end I was glad to get away and play regular cricket for Derbyshire."

Yorkshire put Derbyshire in to bat and Mitch Claydon made the early breakthrough when Michael DiVenuto clipped a catch to Anthony McGrath but Taylor then put the visitors in charge during a 112 second wicket stand with Stephen Stubbings who fell to a legside catch by Gerard Brophy for 62 from 88 balls with eight fours.

Taylor remained steadfast, however, and he hit cleanly over the inner field, his shot-of-the-day being a straight drive for six off Dawson.

Yorkshire were made to regret leaving out Joe Sayers in order to accommodate another seamer and although several batsmen made reasonable contributions no-one was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Openers Craig White and Matthew Wood both fell to Kevin Dean's new ball spell and Michael Lumb's fluent knock of 43 ended when he was bowled by Ant Botha.

McGrath batted nicely until he was run out when Lehmann failed to respond to his call for a run and Yorkshire's last real hope evaporated when the Australian was bowled by Dean for a well-judged 55 from 56 balls with four boundaries.

* Yorkshire were forced to put in a hard day's labour to squeeze out two bowling bonus points on the final day of their rain-ruined Championship game against title-holders, Nottinghamshire, at Trent Bridge on Saturday.

On a soft and unresponsive pitch, Notts chose to bat out the day and the match ended in the inevitable draw when they declared on 417 for eight the moment that Chris Read drove the six that moved him to his second unbeaten century of the season.

Yorkshire's six bowlers stuck gamely to their task and the most successful were McGrath and Bresnan who each took three wickets.

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