YORKSHIRE Phoenix concluded a wretched weekend by slumping to a 60 runs defeat with six overs remaining against Northamp-tonshire Steelbacks at Headingley to leave themselves with a relegation battle on their hands.

Two severe beatings on consecutive days have dashed their National League title hopes and now they must hit back against Lancashire in the day-night match at Old Trafford tomorrow to remove the immediate danger of a bottom three place.

To do so they need to play far better than yesterday when they never looked like challenging Northamptonshire's reachable score of 189 for seven.

The sudden axing of Craig White along with Chris Silverwood brought an unexpected first appearance of the season for Anthony McGrath, who began the game as wicketkeeper while Richard Blakey recovered from a migraine.

Blakey soon recovered to take over behind the stumps but the game remained a constant headache for the 6,500 crowd who had been let in free of charge.

Northants batted first on winning the toss and Matthew Hoggard celebrated his England call-up with a first over wicket maiden as Adrian Rollins guided an outswinger to David Byas at second slip.

Hoggard also had the visitors' Australian captain Matthew Hayden caught behind by McGrath before he handed over the gloves to Blakey and when Mal Loye spooned Gavin Hamilton to Gary Fellows at cover Northants were a shaky 34 for three.

But Yorkshire were forced to suffer for Jeff Cook being put down off an easy chance to James Middlebrook at cover point as the batsman rattled up 70 in 20 overs with David Sales before he was caught at long off by Hamilton.

The powerful Sales had already driven Middlebrook for two towering sixes and two further ones followed as he made his way to an unbeaten 71 off 96 balls with a couple of fours to go alongside.

Hoggard also went to pieces in his final spell when he was lashed for 24 in two overs to finish with three for 43.

Middlebrook's figures were none for 48 in eight overs but Northants were much better served by their slow bowlers, Jason Brown pinning Yorkshire down with two for 28 before Graeme Swann cleaned up with four for 14.

The main prize, however, was claimed by paceman Michael Strong who was brought back when Lehmann came in and he bowled the Australian off his pads with a superb outswinger.

Vaughan, too, could not make any impact and he was first out in disappointing fashion, leaving his bat in the way of a delivery from Devon Malcolm which moved across him.

McGrath was Yorkshire's top-scorer with 32 but although he hung around for 22 overs and picked up the singles neatly he was unable to find the boundary and it was in going for his first real attacking shot that he was caught at long on by Cook.

Blakey had helped McGrath add 35 in 11 overs for the sixth wicket but was out swiping across the line at Swann and several other batsmen also perished to some pretty dismal shots.

The defeat was a bad psychological blow for Yorkshire who meet Northamptonshire at Wantage Road next week in the fourth round of the NatWest Trophy.