Darren Lehmann's first century in coloured clothing cricket could not prevent Yorkshire Phoenix from slumping to yet another defeat in the Norwich Union League when they lost by 16 runs to Leicestershire Foxes at Scarborough yesterday.
It was Yorkshire's fifth defeat in seven games and relegation into Division Two looks ever more likely.
Chasing a stiff 248 target, Yorkshire were never allowed to get on terms by a sharp Leicestershire attack featuring York-born Scott Boswell and it was pretty much a one-man show from Lehmann. He knocked up 103 off 108 balls with ten fours and a six.
While the Australian was there, Yorkshire always had hope but this was snuffed out in the 41st over when Vince Wells trapped him lbw.
In attempting to play the shot, Lehmann twisted the injured left knee which he already had strapped and he obviously did further damage.
Yorkshire had already been badly handicapped when Michael Lumb stumbled while attempting to stop a ball during the Leicestershire innings and had to retire from the action, helped off by Yorkshire physiotherapist Matt Carrico.
Lumb strained ligaments and was unable to bat and his contribution was severely missed. He will see a specialist today.
Put in to bat, Leicestershire were given a rapid start by Vince Wells and Jon Dakin with a 52 stand in nine overs and they managed to maintain a brisk tempo without any batsman going on to a big score.
Leeds-born Iain Sutcliffe provided their main contribution with 48 off 58 balls with five fours before being caught and bowled by Lehmann who also dismissed Ben Smith for 31 to show what an asset his bowling has also become in one-day cricket.
Ryan Sidebottom was lashed for a big six over mid-wicket by Neil Burns but the left-armer still emerged as Yorkshire's most successful bowler with three for 49 while Chris Silverwood celebrated his England call-up by bowling James Ormond in the final over of the innings.
Another of Leicestershire's Yorkshiremen, Boswell, then played a leading role by putting in a demanding spell with the new ball along with Ormond. Boswell struck in his first over by getting one to swing and find the edge of David Byas's bat and soon afterwards Wells took his second catch at slip when Matthew Wood miscued a drive at Ormond.
Gary Fellows looked for a time as if he was going to bat as well as he did against Surrey in last week's Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy tie but after putting on 48 in eight overs with Lehmann he was caught at mid-on for 18 to bring Ormond a second wicket.
Yorkshire suffered a further blow when Craig White, not fully appreciating the danger, was run out by Ben Smith's direct hit at the bowler's end from backward point while going for a quick single but Richard Blakey then added 91 in 17 overs with Lehmann in the biggest stand of the match.
The batsmen, however, never quite managed to score quickly enough and it was in trying to cut to the vacant third man area that Blakey was eventually bowled by Wells for 34.
Lehmann went to his century in the grand manner with a magnificent six off Darren Maddy which sailed over mid-wicket and into the crowd, but 49 were still required from the final five overs and when Lehmann fell lbw to Wells it was as good as over.
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