A stunning all-round performance from Gavin Hamilton, who scored an unbeaten 57 and claimed five for 34, dramatically turned the tables on Sussex Sharks at Scarborough yesterday and brought Yorkshire Phoenix their fifth consecutive National League win to extend their lead at the top of Division One.

It means that if they beat Kent Spitfires at Canterbury in tomorrow's day-night match they will be crowned champions unless Gloucestershire Gladiators win all of their last three matches.Gloucestershire currently have two games in hand and they are in action against Lancashire Lightning today and Sussex Sharks tomorrow.

Yorkshire appeared to have blown their chances when their former Australian batsman Michael Bevan and Sussex skipper Chris Adams rattled up 113 together for the third wicket as they chased a modest 193 target.B

ut then Hamilton returned for an amazing second spell in which he snatched five for 13 in just four overs and dazed Sussex crumbled to 143 all out to lose by 49, the last eight wickets crashing for 28 runs in seven overs.Bevan, handicapped by a shoulder injury caused when he fell heavily fielding a ball during Yorkshire's innings, never looked in any trouble while powering his way to 67 from 69 balls with seven fours and a six.A

s soon as Hamilton rejoined the attack, however, Bevan called for a helmet and was bowled playing over the very next delivery.Two balls later Hamilton pinned Baz Zuiderent lbw and the collapse continued in Hamilton's following over as Adams played Hamilton to backward deep square leg and was unable to beat substitute fielder Vic Craven's throw to wicketkeeper Richard Blakey while attempting a second run.

Robin Martin-Jenkins survived a confident shout for lbw off his first delivery but the next from Hamilton was beautifully scooped up at slip by Anthony McGrath and the tail rapidly subsided to Hamilton and Ian Fisher.

At the beginning of their innings, Sussex were badly shaken by Matthew Hoggard who got rid of openers Richard Montgomerie and Umer Rashid before either had scored.It was an almost identical start to that of Yorkshire who lost skipper David Byas and Simon Widdup for ducks, Byas being lbw to the first ball of the match from James Kirtley and Widdup being snapped up at slip by Adams off Martin-Jenkins.

Former Yorkshire paceman Mark Robinson came on to have McGrath edging a second catch to Adams but Lehmann continued to monopolise the batting with a stunning exhibition of strokeplay.When he reached his 50 it came out of the first 62 runs scored off the bat and a maiden century in county league cricket looked on the cards until he chipped Robinson to wide mid-on and was caught by Will House for 80 from 99 balls with seven fours.

Lehmann did not take the field because of back spasms during the tea interval, but he did manage to add another two years on his contract which keeps him at Yorkshire until the end of 2003.

With Lehmann having gone, Hamilton took charge as he raced to a career-best 57 not out from 58 balls with six fours and two sixes, both himself and James Middlebrook clearing the ground with big hits in the final over.