Michael Lumb struck a man-of-the-match innings to propel Yorkshire into the semi-finals of the C&G Trophy.

Former England academy batsman Lumb responded emphatically to being dropped from the four-day side with a stylish 89 in the 33-run victory over Northamptonshire at Headingley.

The 25-year-old led an impressive recovery alongside one-day expert Ian Harvey as Yorkshire posted 270 after being inserted on a muggy morning.

That 93-run stand formed the backbone of an innings which still appeared shy of a winning total given the ease with which the visitors began their pursuit on a surface improved by the baking sun.

Faced with a situation of 52 for two, Lumb played second fiddle to Harvey, who struck an aggressive 74 after a watchful beginning himself.

Once under way Lumb pushed on to find the gaps regularly as well as striking a mighty six off Ben Phillips' medium pace.

However, he ran out of gas in the closing stages to be caught at long-on off the impressive Damien Wright moments after fourth-wicket partner Anthony McGrath (38) holed out in similar fashion.

Yorkshire prospered as the effects of the new ball wore off, Harvey reaching his half-century from 61 deliveries.

Particularly harsh when the visiting attack dropped short, pulling and cutting with vigour, Harvey eventually fell to the softest of dismissals when he misjudged a slow full toss from Phillips to provide a lobbed catch to midwicket.

Yorkshire were indebted to his contribution and that of left-hander Lumb, whose knock concluded in a frantic finale as seven wickets fell in the final six overs.

It was a similar struggle at the start as Wright exploited the movement on offer whenever the bowlers pitched the ball around a length in an initial burst of 6-2-14-1.

Northamptonshire set off fluently thanks to a 73-run stand for the first wicket between Martyn Love and Bilal Shafayat.

Both batsmen tucked into some profligate bowling from pacemen Matthew Hoggard and Deon Kruis in the initial overs, the former going for five boundaries in his opening spell of 7-0-35-0.

Shafayat should have made more of an escape in the 12th over when, on 31, he squeezed the ball over the head and through the fingertips of Yorkshire captain Richard Dawson, running back from cover.

However, he succumbed from the very next ball as Tim Bresnan won a straightforward leg-before decision with a full-length delivery.

Love was in menacing form, unflustered until a brilliant piece of fielding from Phil Jaques - the first of many - resulted in his departure.

Tim Roberts turned into the on-side for a single off Bresnan but Love was left short of his ground as former Northants player Jaques struck with a direct hit.

That second wicket in quick succession left the visitors with a similar rebuilding job to the one which Yorkshire underwent earlier in the day.

It was former England batsman Usman Afzaal that took charge of the situation alongside Roberts, who rode his luck to be dropped twice before Hoggard returned to redeem his poor figures of earlier.

Returning from the rugby stand end, Hoggard gained a leg before to prise out Roberts and end a stand of 75 for the third wicket.

Northamptonshire kept the required rate at under seven thanks to Afzaal's nous, picking the gaps regularly and also clearing the ropes with two powerful blows off Harvey and Dawson within moments of each other.

His composed half-century came from only 57 deliveries but it was not built upon as he hoiked Hoggard to mid-on where Bresnan held on above his head.

That was the second wicket of six, taken at the cost of 53 runs, as 2002 champions Yorkshire forced their way to within one step of another Lord's showpiece.

Harvey, whose first two overs cost 20, came back strongly to have David Sales taken at midwicket by Jaques, and claimed a second when Johann Louw miscued to point.