Vaughan spent over two hours in the middle

England captain Michael Vaughan has signalled his improving fitness with his first first-class half-century since returning from his knee injury.

Vaughan scored 56 before being bowled by Dimitri Mascarenhas in Yorkshire's Division One match against Hampshire.

When he fell Yorkshire were 128-2 and they moved onto 301-8 before declaring and setting Hampshire 406 to win.

Hampshire were 46-0 by the close of play, with James Adams 17 not out and Michael Carberry 21 not out.

Before he was dismissed just before lunch Vaughan shared a stand of 128 for the second wicket with Anthony McGrath as Yorkshire built a commanding lead.

The England captain spent two-and-a-quarter hours in the middle, his longest innings since his return to action earlier in the week, facing 112 deliveries and hitting four boundaries.

He fell trying to force a good ball from Mascarenhas which kept a bit low as it nipped back to hit off stump.

Vaughan said: "I felt pretty good on a tricky-ish wicket and I am happy with the way that things are going."

But he refused to comment further on how his recovery following knee surgery was coming along.