Michael Vaughan scored his first century of the season for Yorkshire at Northampton yesterday in conditions very similar to those he may find in the first Test against Zimbabwe at Lord's in a week's time.

And the power and grace of many of his strokes put one in mind of several of his outstanding innings for England last year when he was the world's heaviest scorer in Test cricket.

Vaughan, who fell the ball after completing his century from 168 deliveries with 11 fours and three sixes, said: "I am very happy to score a few runs and get my rhythm back ahead of the Test match.

"They say the soil and pitch at Wantage Road are very similar to Lord's so I will just have the slope to deal with there.

"I have felt good so far this season but I knew it would take a couple of innings or so to make some runs and I thought I would stand a good chance here on a better pitch. This could be my last Championship game of the summer for Yorkshire so it feels good to bow out with a century."

Vaughan's 103 came out of a Yorkshire score of 360 for nine which could be very useful on a pitch which has aided the spinners from the start. It was a good toss to win for Anthony McGrath.

After the first five overs had been lost because of a damp outfield, Matthew Wood and Vaughan wasted little time in hurrying on the score, but at 31, Wood shaped to hook John Blain only to lob a catch to Mike Hussey at second slip.

Northants' pacemen rarely worried either McGrath or Vaughan, who produced three breathtaking boundary strokes in one over off Nel and he galloped to his 50 with a big six over mid-wicket off Tony Penberthy.

Off-spinner Jason Brown and left-armer Monty Panesar were soon bowling in tandem for a long spell but the second-wicket pair had dashed to 142 when McGrath gave Panesar a return catch off a leading edge for 51.

As with his 50, Vaughan went to his century in the grand manner, sweeping Brown over square leg, but the next ball had him lbw as he pushed forward.

Richard Blakey struck a couple of boundaries and was then bowled by Brown, yet he had done enough to reach 15,000 runs in first-class cricket, and Michael Lumb had a good knock of 46.

Tim Bresnan managed only seven on his Championship debut but Richard Dawson and Gray gave Yorkshire the upper hand with a stand of 66 in 13 overs and Dawson just had time to complete a brisk 50 off 69 balls with nine fours.