Yorkshire Carnegie’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Friends Provident Trophy are over after a convincing 60-run defeat against Sussex Sharks at Hove today.

Yorkshire Carnegie’s hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Friends Provident Trophy are over after a convincing 60-run defeat against Sussex Sharks at Hove today.

The White Rose county returned yet another damaging batting collapse in their pursuit of 270 to win, falling from 124-2 in the 31st over to 209 all out midway through the 48th. Michael Vaughan and Anthony McGrath did at least hit 66 and 53 respectively as they shared a third wicket stand of 102.

“It’s fair to say that our batting has been disappointing throughout the tournament - and after winning our first two games, going out in this manner is very disappointing,” said captain McGrath. “Having said that we have bowled well throughout, but I don’t think that we bowled as well as we could have done here.”

Sussex won the toss and elected to bat first, and captain Mike Yardy led the way with a confident, but watchful 68 off 82 balls. Opener Ed Joyce had hit 47 off 62 balls to give his side a solid base.

Yorkshire would have been confident of their chances throughout their bowling effort because they managed to restrict the hosts to a score below 300. A score of 300 or above has been posted four times in the last three 50-over matches here, but this track was a little slower and tougher to bat on.

Rich Pyrah claimed 3-65 from ten overs, while David Wainwright returned figures of 2-47 from ten overs. Deon Kruis and Steve Patterson picked up a wicket each, while Vaughan bowled three overs.

Part-time off-spinner Chris Nash was the star of the show for Sussex with the ball, as he returned career best figures of 4-40 from 9.3 overs to be at the centre of Yorkshire’s demise.

Although things were not conducive to scoring runs at a rapid rate all afternoon – only four late order Sussex batsmen in Rory Hamilton-Brown (17 off 14 balls), Yasir Arafat (17 off 16), Robin Martin-Jenkins (19 not out off 20) and Ben Brown (18 not out off eleven did that – Yorkshire still had a chance needing 146 off 20 overs with eight wickets standing.

But as soon as they tried to up the ante, wickets started to tumble. Their chances were gone with them at 149-6 in the 37th, with McGrath, Vaughan, Adam Lyth and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan all back in the tent. Pakistani Yasir Arafat claimed 3-44 from ten overs, including the early wickets of Joe Sayers and Jacques Rudolph to reduce Yorkshire to 22-2.

Sussex eventually won with 15 balls to spare.

MATCH PREVIEW

The exciting last over victory against Durham Dynamos means wins over Sussex and Surrey would secure a Quarter-Final slot for Anthony McGrath's side. Anything less would mean we might have to get the calculators out, but the side will have taken a lot of heart from Richard Pyrah's heroics on Wednesday and will travel south knowing their destiny is in their own hands.

Gerard Brophy and Michael Vaughan return from injury and James Lee has been included in a squad of thirteen after some excellent performances in the 2nd Team. Tim Bresnan is missing on England Test duty.

50 overs a side and it starts at 10.45am. 

YORKSHIRE CARNEGIE SQUAD

Jacques Rudolph (24), Joe Sayers (22), Michael Vaughan (7), Anthony McGrath (10, capt), Gerard Brophy (20), Adam Lyth (9), Adil Rashid (3), Richard Pyrah (27), Rana Naved (25), David Wainwright (29), Deon Kruis (5), Steve Patterson (17) and James Lee (28).  

SUSSEX SHARKS SQUAD

To be confirmed...  

MATCH INFO

Don't get caught out by the varying start times in the FPT this summer. The counties were given the choice on whether to start their home fixtures at 10.45am or 12 noon. Hove matches start at 10.45am!

The regional groups have gone for this years FPT - Yorkshire Carnegie face Durham Dynamos, Sussex Sharks, Gloucestershire Gladiators and Surrey Brown Caps in 2009.

The top two in each group qualify for the Quarter-Finals, then there are Semi-Finals and then a Lord's Final.