England captain Michael Vaughan played his part in laying solid foundations at Grace Road yesterday as Yorkshire went about trying to make the biggest winning score in their history.

Leicestershire set them a daunting 404 target and Yorkshire were in with a shout at the close of the third day when they stood on 261 for three and still requiring 143.

Their highest successful run chase so far is the 331 for seven they made against Middlesex at Lord's in 1910 but they need to go a good way beyond that if they are to maintain their unbeaten record.

Vaughan at last found his true form, lacing his 53 off 73 balls before being bowled as he pushed forward at left-arm spinner, Claude Henderson.

Leicestershire held all the aces when they resumed on 183 for five, leading by 310, and Paul Nixon proved was the steadying influence, batting throughout the morning while three wickets fell at the other end.

He was bowled for 68 in the first over of the afternoon session by Deon Kruis at which point Leicestershire declared on 276 for nine.

Although Yorkshire had a minimum of 163 overs and all the time in the world to make their runs, Matthew Wood and Phil Jaques set off as if it were a Twenty-20 match with 30 coming off the first three overs.

The 50 arrived in nine overs before the pace slackened but the openers bristled sufficiently for their stand to be worth 94 in 21 overs before both departed, Wood caught behind off Darren Maddy for 48 and Jaques falling lbw to Phil DeFreitas for 37.

Vaughan announced himself with a regal drive through extra cover for four. He was fortunate that there was no third slip when he got an involuntary edge off DeFreitas and he suffered a moment's discomfort when the same bowler struck him on the right hand but for the rest of the time he and Anthony McGrath were in harmony as they added 84 priceless runs.

McGrath was on 32 at the fall of Vaughan's wicket, but he found another able partner in Ian Harvey.

McGrath's 50 came from 85 balls with three boundaries and the pair went serenely on until the close when McGrath was 70 and Harvey 32, the stand being worth 77.