YORKSHIRE were today dismissed for their lowest ever total in the Benson and Hedges Cup after slumping to 81 all out in their crunch zonal tie against Lancashire at Headingley.

Put into bat on a seaming Headingley wicket, Yorkshire's total falls seven short of their previous lowest recorded against Worcestershire on the same ground seven years ago.

They were dismissed in only 27.2 overs, inflicting a serious blow on their high run-rate and could put their hopes of claiming a home quarter-final draw in jeopardy.

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was Lancashire's most successful bowler, claiming a career-best four for 11 while seamer Jon Wood grabbed three for 33, including Yorkshire's England opener Michael Vaughan and Craig White.

Needing a victory and other results to go in their favour if they were to qualify for the last eight, Lancashire's desire to qualify initially overshadowed the return of former Yorkshire captain David Byas to Headingley for the first time since his controversial switch across the Pennines during the winter.

He received an enthusiastic reception as Lancashire took the field having put Yorkshire into bat and Wood claimed the early breakthrough by comprehensively bowling White as he attempted to drive over the top, one of three wickets to fall in 10 deliveries.

Vaughan fell five balls later, caught behind off a bottom edge trying to pull, while Tim Bresnan became Wood's final victim six overs later lifting straight to mid-off.

Once he was taken off, Flintoff enjoyed his most successful return ever in the competition to give England's selectors a lift less than a week before the selection of the squad for the first Test against Sri Lanka at Lord's.

He began his wicket-haul by dismissing Gary Fellows, who was superbly caught by Byas on his Headingley return after running around from second slip to take the catch at gully off the shoulder of the bat.

But fortune did not go all Lancashire's way, with Yorkshire enjoying a determined last wicket partnership spanning 8.2 overs between wicketkeeper Richard Blakey and Matthew Hoggard, which added 16 crucial runs before Flintoff ended the innings.