Yorkshire's bowlers tonight returned their best performance in the Friends Provident Twenty20 so far against Durham at Headingley, allowing Herschelle Gibbs and Andrew Gale to confirm their side's first North Division win at the third time of asking.

Leg-spinner Adil Rashid, pace bowler Ajmal Shahzad and medium-pacer Rich Pyrah all impressed, taking six wickets between them.

Clint McKay struggled for the second successive game, returning one for 46 from his four overs as the visitors made 156 for seven, thanks to 33 from Albie Morkel, 32 from Ben Stokes and 31 from Ross Taylor.

Gibbs and captain Gale shared an unbroken second- wicket stand of 137 in 71 balls to complete a thumping nine-wicket win with four overs to spare.

Gibbs was man of the match as he finished 76 not out off 39 balls with seven fours and three sixes, while Gale was unbeaten on 59 off 42 with five fours and three maximums.

After Gale elected to field first, Rashid was the pick of the White Rose attack with three for 23 from four. He claimed the wickets of Dale Benkenstein, Stokes and Gareth Breese.

Shahzad, who had earlier in the day learnt of his omission from England's one-day international squad, bowled Phil Mustard with the fourth ball of the match.

Morkel, Stokes and Taylor hit six sixes between them. All went at less than a run a ball, with Taylor hitting three maximums in his 16-ball innings.

McKay, who plays his last game against Northamptonshire here on Sunday before linking up with Australia's one-day squad, bowled Ian Blackwell in the fourth over.

But the Victorian seamer has conceded 129 from 12 overs in three matches at a rate of 10.75 runs per over.

Steve Harmison had been jeered by the Western Terrace after his first ball slipped out of his hand and landed behind umpire Richard Illingworth.

But he soon quietened them when he ripped out Jacques Rudolph's off stump with the next ball to leave the hosts at 23 for one in the fourth over of their reply.

They were not quiet for long though because Gibbs and Gale set a platform before exploding through the middle of their chase.

The pair took 35 off the 11th and 12th overs combined to virtually end the contest. Gibbs confirmed his 50 off 27 balls and Gale reached his off 36 balls shortly afterwards.

* Tim Bresnan will be available for Yorkshire's Friends Provident Twenty20 match against Leicestershire at Grace Road a week on Sunday as he bids to prove his fitness for England's forthcoming one-day campaign.