Yorkshire suffered more frustration in their t20 campaign after their top order again struggled to reach a more competitive total and condemned them to a convincing defeat against Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

After winning the toss and batting first on a good wicket, Yorkshire had hoped to set the North Group leaders a more challenging total than 152-5, but fell away in the middle of their innings despite impressive displays from captain Andrew Gale and York’s Jonny Bairstow.

It was a total that was unlikely to challenge the Outlaws, who are closing in on qualification for the quarter-final stage of the competition and completed their six-wicket victory with 11 balls remaining.

It leaves Yorkshire needing victory in almost all their remaining four matches if they are to follow Notts into the last eight having slumped to their third defeat in the last four matches.

Gale, the only Yorkshire batsman in pass 50 in this summer’s t20 competition, was undermined from the start with Joe Sayers brilliantly caught at short extra cover by Riki Wessels off Luke Fletcher in the second over.

After that it was a struggle for Yorkshire to build partnerships despite Gale’s aggressive intent, which he showed by hitting Darren Pattinson down the ground for six in the fifth over.

Once the first six powerplay overs were completed, by which time Adam Lyth had been run out by Pattinson at the non-striker’s end, Yorkshire struggled for scoring options and went nine overs without a boundary.

Successfully utilising spinners Graeme White, Adam Voges and the medium-pace of Steven Mullaney, Notts halted Yorkshire’s progress and began to make inroads.

Anthony McGrath edged behind attempting to cut and Gary Ballance was run out as Yorkshire attempted to increase a fading run-rate.

It took the arrival of Bairstow, now batting at number six after starting the competition as opener, who halted Yorkshire’s slow progress. He began his innings by driving Voges down the ground for four and looked capable of forging a dangerous partnership with Gale.

They were denied that opportunity with Gale, who hit 62 off 55 balls, getting caught at short fine leg attempting the scoop shot, but Bairstow’s aggression helped Yorkshire add 43 off the final three overs and helped him finish unbeaten on 41 off 26 balls, his highest t20 score of the season.

An illness prior to the match ruled out experienced seamer Ryan Sidebottom and prompted Yorkshire into giving a surprise debut to 26-year-old Iain Wardlaw, who had been spotted by Gale playing for Cleckheaton.

He did not disappoint and claimed two wickets in his third over to break up a promising 61-run second wicket stand between Riki Wessels and Tamim Iqbal, who had already been dropped on the boundary by McGrath, when they were both caught attempting to hit down the ground.

Azeem Rafique briefly lifted Yorkshire’s hopes of salvaging a victory when Adam Voges reverse swept onto his own stumps in the next over, but captain Chris Read guided Notts home with by hitting 26 off 15 balls, including successive sixes off Richard Pyrah.

Meanwhile, Yorkshire are poised to recall left-arm spinner David Wainwright from his loan spell with Derbyshire after Azeem Rafiq suffered a hamstring strain against Notts.

Promising off-spinner Rafiq suffered the injury off the final ball of the match when he trod on the boundary rope. He is due to have a scan today, but Yorkshire expect him to be ruled out of cricket for the next four to six weeks.

Director of Cricket Martyn Moxon intends to off-set Rafiq’s loss by recalling Wainwright.