Yorkshire Phoenix's bid to become Norwich Union National League champions fizzled out under the Canterbury floodlights last night when they lost to Kent Spitfires by 64 runs in their final coloured-clothing game of the season.

To snatch the title they needed to win while Gloucestershire Gladiators had to lose, but Gladiators went on to beat Sussex Sharks at Hove to overtake Yorkshire at the top with one game still to play.

The loss of the toss and a ten-minute break because of a power cut early in their innings did Yorkshire no favours but they were still clearly outclassed on the night by Kent.

Chasing a stiff 218 target, Yorkshire were never able to take control of events and they lost their last wicket on 153 with 28 balls remaining.

Kent skipper Matthew Fleming was the chief antagonist, rapping out a quickfire 79 and then weighing in with three for 19 off his nine overs.

Yorkshire captain David Byas was lbw early on and Yorkshire's hopes dipped when Darren Lehmann was out for only one, edging a ball from Martin Saggers to wicket-keeper Paul Nixon. But Michael Vaughan and Gavin Hamilton restored fortunes with a sensible 71 stand in 16 overs.

Mark Ealham dealt a double blow by taking a return catch to send back Vaughan for a stylish 39 and in his next over a sliced drive by Hamilton (44) was held by Rahul Dravid at deep cover.

Yorkshire were running out of steam and they became increasingly desperate, despite a brave 30 off 41 balls with three fours and a six from Richard Blakey.

Yorkshire did reasonably well to restrict Kent to 217 after Fleming had got them off to a dashing start with a savagely struck 79 off 85 balls.

Fleming so dominated an opening stand of 76 with Steve Marsh that he completed his half-century out of 66, and Marsh had reached only 14 when Hamilton made the breakthrough by finding the edge for Anthony McGrath to take the catch at slip.

Vaughan trapped James Hockley lbw before Fleming played Hamilton to deep mid-wicket and could not beat Vaughan's accurate throw.

Kent's impetus was lost with their captain gone and the best of the rest of the batting came from Dravid with 36 and Nixon who hit 30.

Hoggard made it two-in-two by pinning James Golding lbw and his final analysis of three for 46 gave him 37 wickets for the season, leaving him just two short of Adam Hollioake's record haul of 39 for Surrey in 1996 but he is well placed to finish as this summer's top bowler.