YORKSHIRE Phoenix lost top place in the totesport League Division Two table to Middlesex Crusaders who beat them by 29 runs in an entertaining match reduced by rain to 24-overs-a-side at Headingley yesterday.

Although Middlesex thrashed the ball around in dashing to 209-7 they were assisted by an injury scare to Matthew Hoggard who retired hurt with a jarred right knee after sending down his fourth delivery.

The England paceman hobbled off for ice pack treatment and it will be later today before the damage can be properly assessed but with the first Test against the West Indies starting on July 22 everyone is hoping the injury is not too serious.

Hoggard's quick exit meant Chris Silverwood had to replace him earlier than expected and once again he proved expensive with the shiny white ball, going for 28 after his first full over was a maiden which included the wicket of Paul Weekes.

But acting captain, Ben Hutton, grandson of Sir Leonard and playing in his first game at Headingley, was then joined in a hard-hitting stand of 106 in only ten overs by Owais Shah.

Hutton, who survived a sharp chance in the covers before he had scored and was put down at mid-off on six by Michael Lumb, drove John Blain fiercely for a straight six but was bowled by a quicker one from Richard Dawson for 41 off 35 balls with six other boundary shots.

Shah, batting powerfully and with great style, dashed to 81 from 56 deliveries with eight fours and three sixes before he hit Tim Bresnan high to Dawson at cover point.

Dawson was the pick of the bowlers with 1-27 but Vic Craven collected four wickets - at a cost of 50 runs. Among his victims was Nick Compton, grandson of Denis, and he fell trying to emulate his grandfather's sweep but he scooped the ball into the air and was caught behind the corner by Bresnan.

Yorkshire began badly, losing Matthew Wood in the first over when he edged Chad Keegan's third ball to Weekes at second slip, but Andy Gale and Phil Jaques made a valiant attempt to turn the tide with a century stand in just 11 overs.

Gale attempted too many reverse sweeps and in the end he fell over trying to hit a legside ball from off-spinner Jamie Dalrymple and was stumped off a wide.

As long as Jaques survived Yorkshire were in with a shout but after hammering 70 from 46 balls with five fours and three sixes he top-edged a sweep at Dalrymple and lobbed a catch to Weekes who was specially positioned at leg slip.

At 132-3 in 16 overs, Yorkshire were rapidly running out of time and they were pegged back even further as Dalrymple and fellow spinner Weekes each bowled a tight line.

Bresnan, promoted in the order, batted well for his 39, but when the ninth wicket went down at 180 off the penultimate ball of the match, Middlesex were winners because Hoggard did not come out to bat.

totesport League

Division One

Maidstone: Match abandoned, rain, 2pts each Kent Spitfires 168-2 (M A Carberry 76, E T Smith 58 no) v Essex Eagles No result

Old Trafford: Gloucestershire Gladiators 237-9 (C M Spearman 89, T H C Hancock 53 no) v Lancashire Lightning 219 (M B Loye 65, J Lewis 4-30)

Gloucestershire beat Lancashire by 18 runs

Edgbaston: Northamptonshire Steelbacks 233 (T W Roberts 112) v Warwickshire Bears 235-6 (G B Hogg 74, M A Wagh 70) Warwickshire beat Northamptonshire by 4 wkts

Division Two

Riverside: Match abandoned, rain, 2pts each No result

Trent Bridge: Nottinghamshire Outlaws 211-8 (J E R Gallian 56, J Moss 4-45) v Derbyshire Scorpions 212-1 (C W G Bassano 100 no, J Moss 92)

Derbyshire beat Nottinghamshire by 9 wkts

Hove: Match abandoned, rain, 2pts each Sussex Sharks 57-2 v Scottish Saltires No result

New Road: Worcestershire Royals 238-7 (V S Solanki 59, G A Hick 52) v Somerset Sabres 179 (K P Dutch 79 no)

Worcestershire beat Somerset by 64 runs (D/L Method)

totesport League

Division One

Glamorgan Dragons 8 7 1 0 0 28

Kent Spitfires 8 4 2 0 2 20

Hampshire Hawks 8 4 2 0 2 20

Northants Steelbacks 7 4 3 0 0 16

Lancashire Lightning 8 4 4 0 0 16

Warwickshire Bears 8 3 5 0 0 12

Essex Eagles 8 2 4 1 1 12

Gloucs Gladiators 8 2 5 1 0 10

Surrey Lions 7 1 5 0 1 6

Division Two

Middlesex Crusaders 9 7 2 0 0 28

Yorkshire Phoenix 10 6 4 0 0 24

Worcestershire Royals 9 5 3 0 1 22

Durham Dynamos 10 5 4 0 1 22

Notts Outlaws 9 4 3 0 2 20

Leicestershire Foxes 9 4 4 0 1 18

Somerset Sabres 9 4 5 0 0 16

Derbyshire Scorpions 9 4 5 0 0 16

Sussex Sharks 9 3 5 0 1 14

Scottish Saltires 11 1 8 0 2 8

Updated: 12:06 Monday, July 05, 2004