YORKSHIRE Phoenix almost achieved the impossible at Headingley last night as they chased Leicestershire Foxes' mammoth score of 221-3, the highest ever recorded in Twenty-20 cricket.

They appeared down and out at 143-3 in 16 overs which left them requiring a further 79 from just four overs.

But Australian left-hander Phil Jaques and Tim Bresnan had other ideas as they launched a furious assault on the bowling.

Darren Maddy, who had earlier thrashed a stunning 111 for Leicestershire, was slammed for two fours and a six off the first three balls of the 17th over by Jaques and, after racing a single, the last two deliveries were smacked for four and six by Bresnan.

The next over from Mark Cleary brought 18 runs, including two sixes for Jaques, and Ottis Gibson then gave away 17 to leave Yorkshire needing to make a further 17 off the final over from Gibson.

A no-ball helped Yorkshire's cause but Jaques was then caught on the long-on boundary and Bresnan was held on the rope off the next delivery to end the brave fightback.

Jaques made 92 off just 49 balls with five sixes and nine fours, while Bresnan's 42 included two sixes and three fours and came off 27 balls, the fourth-wicket pair putting on 93 in eight overs.

Michael Lumb was bowled by Cleary for Yorkshire to finish on 211-6 and the 432 runs in the game was Twenty-20s' highest aggregate, beating the 417 of the previous evening in Yorkshire's match with Nottinghamshire.

Earlier in the Yorkshire innings, Anthony McGrath struck a cameo 37 off 20 balls with three sixes and two fours but Leicestershire took a grip on the game at 120-3 in 12 overs when they conceded only 12 runs in the next three overs.

Winning the toss, Leicestershire openers Maddy and Brad Hodge piled up 167 together in 16 overs, which was easily the highest stand in the competition, beating the 120 by Ian Harvey, now with Yorkshire, and Craig Spearman for Gloucestershire last season.

Hodge was eventually lbw to Richard Dawson for 78 from 49 balls with two sixes and ten fours but it was not until the final over that Maddy was dismissed, cutting Steve Kirby to McGrath at third man, his 111 using up 60 balls off which he flogged six sixes and eight fours.

Maddy gave one sharp chance to Jaques on the mid-wicket boundary when 74 but most of the time he was in total command with McGrath soaking up his fair share of the punishment, his three overs costing 40 runs.

Updated: 10:47 Friday, July 09, 2004