While Yorkshire were trying their hardest to contain Glamorgan on a good batting pitch at Colwyn Bay yesterday, director of cricket Geoff Cope was trying to clinch a deal which will bring the club a new overseas player for the season's climax in September.

Yorkshire were already aware that New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming and Indian left-hander Yuvraj Singh would be leaving after Sunday's National League game against leaders Surrey Lions at Headingley.

But fresh urgency was brought to the search when Yuvraj disclosed yesterday that he would now be returning home immediately after the present game.

The Indian Cricket Board, apparently, have already let Yuvraj miss one training camp but are now insisting that he attends another one which begins on Monday ahead of their Test series against New Zealand next month.

"We have decided to go for just one overseas replacement and I have already earmarked a top international player," said Cope. "If everything goes to plan he should be with us in a few days' time."

Cope is anxious that the new player - a batsman - is settled in and ready to play in the Championship match against Somerset at Headingley next Wednesday.

By then, however, Yorkshire's fading chances of promotion to the First Division may already have been snuffed out, particularly if the current game ends in a draw.

Bowlers always toil on the compact Colwyn Bay CC ground, at Rhos on Sea, and Yorkshire were no exception to the rule as Michael Powell led the way with a robust and flawless 146 out of Glamorgan's 380 for seven off 95 overs.

Bradford-born Alex Wharf and Australian Michael Kasprowicz were in six-hitting mode at the end, having added 57 off 52 balls and the home fans could not believe it when they accepted the offer to come off for bad light.

Apart from erratic bowling from Steve Kirby, Yorkshire performed tidily with Chris Silverwood's four wickets being just reward for a good line and a full length.

Powell completed his third century of the season with some bruising leg-side hits and he had powered his way to 146 with 22 fours and a six when he drove high to Silverwood at long-off to bring Yuvraj his second Championship wicket of the season.

Yuvraj was the seventh bowler tried by Anthony McGrath and it was a reflection of the season as a whole that neither Richard Dawson nor Andy Gray, the two specialist spinners, could manage a wicket between them.

Winning the toss, Glamorgan promoted wicketkeeper Mark Wallace to open with Australian, Jimmy Maher, and the move paid dividends as 82 came off the first 14 overs.

Darren Gough bowled well, six overs costing him 25 runs, but Kirby was lashed for 64 from nine overs, his only consolation being that he made the breakthrough by pinning Wallace lbw.

Silverwood struck in the following over by getting Adrian Dale lbw off his first ball.