ALL thoughts of Yorkshire retaining the Frizzell County Championship have vanished and unless there is a dramatic change for the better very soon, the White Roses will suffer the indignity of dropping into Division Two for the first time.

There innings defeat against Sussex at Headingley, means the Tykes have now lost five and drawn one of their first six matches and since winning the Championship at Scarborough last August they have lost seven out of eight games.

Resuming the final day on eight without loss from seven overs, Yorkshire managed to survive for only a further 37 overs before being fired out for 125 - their lowest score since making 115 against Surrey at the Oval three years' ago.

The highest partnership was 24 - for the ninth wicket - between Richard Blakey and Steven Kirby and when Yorkshire's acting skipper was last out he had managed 28, making him the season's highest run-scorer with 382.

It is an excellent effort from Blakely who has beencoming in at No 7 but at the same time reflects badly on the earlier batsmen.

Yorkshire were torn apart by James Kirtley whose 5-41 gave him match figures of 10-90 and enhanced his chances of being included this week in England's squad for the forthcoming NatWest Series of one-day internationals with Sri Lanka and India.

Hopes of holding out for a draw were dashed as Kirtley picked up the first four wickets to fall and the game was all over 40 minutes after lunch when Kirtley wrapped things up by getting rid of Blakey.

Robin Martin-Jenkins and Kevin Innes also chipped in with two wickets apiece as Sussex secured their first win of the season by an innings and 94 runs.

Updated: 11:44 Monday, June 17, 2002