The flies plagued Yorkshire Phoenix at Arundel on Sunday and Yorkshire in turn plagued Sussex Sharks, crushing them by eight wickets to stay top of Division Two of the totesport League with six wins out of their last seven matches.

Yorkshire's yellow away strip attracted the flies so strongly that their shirts were covered in them during practice and the players had to delve into their bags to see how many of the navy blue home outfits that they could find.

They managed 11 between them, but not all were different names so Yorkshire had to go into the field with two Matthew Hoggards, two Chris Silverwoods and two Richard Blakeys - plus one Steve Kirby who was not even playing.

It needed only one Hoggard, however, splendidly supported by Tim Bresnan, to have Sussex in disarray after they had won the toss and decided to bat first on a slowish pitch with some movement.

Inside the first ten overs they had been reduced to 43-5.

Bresnan in his first over trapped Ian Ward lbw on the backfoot and Hoggard accounted for New Zealander Murray Goodwin in similar style shortly afterwards.

Captain Chris Adams was soon caught low at first slip by Andy Gray off Hoggard, while Bresnan knocked back Tony Cottey's middle stump and Hoggard ended opener Matt Prior's resistance when he edged to Richard Blakey, who had hurried south on Saturday evening to replace Simon Guy.

Chris Silverwood was erratic at times, but Vic Craven was right on target with his medium pacers and he helped clean up with three for 13 off 4.1 overs.

The innings lasted only 32.1 overs and Yorkshire were soon going in to bat with a new opening combination in Chris Taylor and Andrew Gale. They were certain of their places after Michael Lumb went home early after spraining his ankle in training during the Championship match at the Rose Bowl.

Taylor fell lbw to Jason Lewry's second delivery but in his next over the left-armer had to retire from the action with a rib muscle spasm after sending down three consecutive wides, one of which went to the boundary.

Yorkshire had to contend with a good probing spell from Robin Martin-Jenkins who was not scored off until his 23rd delivery.

Gale and acting captain Matthew Wood shared a 92-stand in 20 overs for the second wicket, Wood playing meticulously in defence and attack while Gale showed that he is a batsman prepared to hit the ball hard at every opportunity.

The Cleckheaton left-hander advanced down the track to hit some powerful drives and he registered the only six of the game by despatching Martin-Jenkins high over wide long on.

Spinner Mark Davis managed to check Gale's aggressive intent but when he tried to hit medium-pacer Wright back over his head he ballooned the ball to wicketkeeper Prior and was out for 46 from 66 balls, with six fours and a six.

Yorkshire were seen home in 26.5 overs by Wood and Phil Jaques, Wood ending with 41 from 68 deliveries, with four boundaries.

There were certainly no flies on Yorkshire as they headed north in the early evening sunshine.

Updated: 10:04 Monday, June 28, 2004