In the build up to Yorkshire’s Friends Provident Twenty20 clash with Warwickshire, captain Andrew Gale stated his side “need to win their last three games” to qualify from the North Division.

However, his team fell at the first hurdle in Birmingham last night as they were beaten by 14 runs.

It means with two matches left Yorkshire are now three points behind Derbyshire, who occupy the all-important fourth spot in the table and, although the latest disappointment is not terminal to their chances, it is a massive blow.

The reason for this latest defeat, the county’s fourth in their last five matches in the competition, can be put down to a poor batting display.

Despite only needing to chase down 146 to win, thanks to a disciplined bowling display, they were all out for only 131.

The wickets began to tumble early, with Gale out for one in only the second over when he found Ant Botha at short extra cover off Neil Carter.

Herschelle Gibbs was next to go for 15, after a promising partnership of 38 with Adam Lyth and, by the end of the tenth over, the Tykes were four down with Lyth, who made 31, and York-born Jonathan Bairstow back in the hut.

At that stage the score was at 74-4, and soon after the contest was effectively over with three wickets falling in consecutive overs to leave them on 102-7 after 16.

Clint McKay did then give the match some much needed entertainment, with 20 from only 19 balls, and out of nowhere the Tykes dramatically required 16 to win from the final over.

However, McKay perished along with Rich Pyrah and David Wainwright as the innings came to an abrupt end to rubber stamp the defeat.

Yorkshire’s failure with the bat was all the more frustrating given their excellent display with the ball.

The returning David Wainwright, making his first appearance for the county since early June, and Steven Patterson both took three wickets to restrict the hosts to 145-8.

Patterson was the first to strike – removing Neil Carter for 27 after he and Jonathan Trott had added 44 for the first wicket.

That breakthrough provided a launchpad for the Tykes and from their good position in the sixth over Warwickshire slumped to 67-5 at the end of the 12th.

Adil Rashid picked up one wicket and Wainwright dismissed Trott, Darren Maddy and Keith Barker cheaply. However, a quick-fire 39 from Rikki Clarke and then an entertaining 27 from Chris Woakes gave the hosts late momentum.

It helped lift the Bears from 88-6 after 15 overs to their final score of 145 – before the home side’s bowlers continued to turn the match Warwickshire’s way.