Yorkshire Phoenix's chances of Division One survival in the CGU National League faded even further yesterday when another feeble performance resulted in them capitulating to Kent Spitfires by nine wickets at Canterbury.

After Phoenix had struggled to 161 for eight on winning the toss, Spitfires went in with all guns blazing, Kent beneficiary Trevor Ward and Robert Key smashing up 136 for the first wicket.

The last time Ward and Key had a century opening stand together was against Yorkshire at Maidstone last year when they put on 125.

This was Phoenix's seventh consecutive defeat and it equalled their longest losing run in county league matches. Although they remain six points clear of the three relegation places, each of the three teams below them now have two matches in hand.

Yorkshire went into the game without all-rounder Gavin Hamilton who had aggravated a hamstring strain but his absence was no excuse for a comprehensive beating.

Yorkshire's slump started in the first over when Craig White, in his 100th county league match, had his off-stump flattened by Mark Ealham, and it quickly became 14 for three as Michael Vaughan and Richard Harden tamely nicked catches to wicketkeeper Steve Marsh.

Anthony McGrath was brilliantly run out when Nigel Llong sprawled at gully to stop a thick edge and flung the ball back to Marsh who broke the stumps with a startled McGrath still not back in his crease, and it was only the stubborn resistance of skipper David Byas which stopped a complete collapse.

He moved solidly on to 46 off 95 balls with four boundaries, but after battling away for two hours he drove Matthew Fleming low to Julian Thompson at mid-on, leaving Gary Fellows and Richard Blakey to bring about a further improvement with a 52 stand in nine overs for the seventh wicket.

Once again, Fellows looked much more assured than most of his earlier colleagues and he had struck a career-best 36 when he holed out to Llong at long-off in the quest for late runs, Blakey finishing unbeaten on 29.

Neither Ward nor Key appeared to experience any of the problems which so bothered Yorkshire and each batsman clattered four boundaries off the seamers as they raised the 50 in the 12th over.

Key's free hit at White raced through the covers for four and the assault became even fiercer when Vaughan's off-spin came into play, Ward straight driving him first bounce into the crowd before sweeping him for four and six to charge to his half-century out of 95 in only 19 overs.

Kent dashed into three figures in the 22nd over with Key soon following Ward to his half-century but Vaughan ended the spree by taking a return catch to dismiss Ward for 70 off 87 balls with nine fours and a six.

Llong joined Key who was still there with 76 off 93 balls with ten fiercely struck boundaries when the winning runs were hit with 13.3 overs remaining.

Now Yorkshire must try to restore some of the confidence which is draining from them in time for tomorrow's one-day clash with Durham for the Northern Electric Trophy at the Scarborough Cricket Festival.

Division one leaders Lancashire kept their title drive alive with a seven-wicket defeat of Leicestershire Foxes at Old Trafford, with Mike Atherton leading the Lancashire run charge with an unbeaten 64. He received good support from Mike Watkinson (49) and John Crawley (39) along the way.

Worcestershire, two points off the lead but with a game in hand, were equally convincing in their eight-wicket win over bottom club Essex Eagles.

After restricting Essex to a paltry 131 for nine from their 45 overs at New Road, Royals eased to the four points with more than 15 overs remaining.

Philip Weston (37) and Elliott Wilson (24) laid the foundations for success with an opening stand of 57, before Graeme Hick (45 not out) and Vikram Solanki (eight not out) finished the job.

In division two, Vasbert Drakes wrote his name into the record books in stunning fashion as hosts Nottinghamshire Outlaws won the Trent Bridge clash with neighbours Derbyshire Scorpions.

The Barbadian claimed four wickets in as many balls as at the start of the final over to seal Notts a remarkable eight-run win, so becoming only the third bowler to achieve that feat in the history of English domestic one-day cricket.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.