GLEN Chapple admits captaining Lancashire has never been his ambition - but the job certainly brings the best out of him.

With Stuart Law resting after his two-week exertions in the Indian Cricket League and Andrew Flintoff concentrating on a delivery of a different kind following the birth of his third child in the early hours of yesterday morning, the 34-year-old was handed the job for the 50-over friendly against Yorkshire at Old Trafford.

And he certainly led by example, taking two crucial wickets and then blasting an unbeaten 51 off just 32 balls to secure a five-wicket victory on what was a freezing cold start to cricket at Old Trafford.

Surprisingly, it was the first time the veteran of 16 seasons has captained the county, and it seemed to suit him down to the ground.

"It certainly keeps your mind on other things rather than freezing," said Chapple, who guided the side home with Luke Sutton, who finished unbeaten on 32.

"It is good experience. If it ever crops up in a proper competitive situation then the more people who have experienced captaincy the better. But I am back in the ranks tomorrow."

Lancs looked unlikely winners when Chapple came in. They were 122-5 with just 69 balls left chasing a revised target of 190 from 44 overs after heavy sleet showers forced the players off at the start of the Lightning's innings.

In fact, it was so cold five of the Yorkshire side fielded in beanie hats!

Struggling

But they soon warmed up as former England one-day international all-rounder Tim Bresnan, captaining in place of the flu-stricken Darren Gough, followed his unbeaten 47 with the bat by dismissing Gareth Cross (19), Mal Loye (35) and Paul Horton (1) to leave Lancs struggling on 64-4.

Steven Croft (42) and Sutton put on 58 to give the home side a chance, but when Croft chipped Deon Kruis to Craig White, all looked lost.

"It was a tall order," said Chapple, who smashed three sixes and five fours as Lancs won with 11 balls to spare.

"We obviously had to play a few big shots. We saw in their innings it is the kind of wicket where you can play big shots. When I went in I thought we could do the same.

"It is always nice to get over the line and when you are close and don't get over the line it can knock confidence."

Earlier Chapple, having won the toss, sent back both Yorkshire openers with in a two-over spell. Andrew Gale skied a leading edge to Simon Marshall at mid-on for four and then Craig White left a ball that ripped out his off-st ump to leave Yorkshire on 14-2.

Tom Smith and then Steven Mullaney both dropped catches in the slips off Adam Lyth, before Mullaney made up for the error by bowling the left-hander.

Mullaney added a second when Adil Rashid miss-timed a drive to Loye, and Yorkshire limped to 120-6 when Sajid Mahmood bowled Gerard Brophy and Richard Pyrah edged Smith to Sutton.

And when David Wainwright pulled Marshall to Croft at mid-wicket, the visitors were struggling on 151-7 with less than five overs to go.

However, Bresnan and Amjal Shahzad put on 50 in just 34 balls to take Yorkshire to 201-7 from their 50 overs with Mahmood, who had conceded just 19 in his first eight overs, being smashed for 22 from his final 12 balls.

"We can bowl better as a unit," added Chapple. "I think everybody in their second spell bowled a lot better, so we got in a lot of practice. Everbody learnt a little bit and a win always gives you confidence.

"Some of the batsmen were a bit unlucky on an early-season pitch, but all the bowlers got a work-out and 50 overs in the field is good for your legs.''

Law and Flintoff are both due to start in the two-day game, which begins today, although Yorkshire will still be without Michael Vaughan, Gough and Matthew Hoggard. "It is great news for Fred, everyone is very pleased for him and he definitely deserved a day off today," added Chapple.

"He will be looking forward to playing some cricket." Tweet