A stunning performance from Gavin Hamil-ton, who scored an unbeaten 57 and claimed five for 34, dramatically turned the tables on Sussex Sharks at Scarborough yesterday and brought Yorkshire Phoenix their fifth consecutive National League win to extend their lead at the top of Division One.

It means that if they beat Kent Spitfires at Canterbury in tomorrow's day-night match they will be crowned champions unless Gloucestershire Gladiators win all of their last three matches.

Yorkshire appeared to have blown their chances when their former batsman Michael Bevan and Sussex skipper Chris Adams rattled up 113 for the third wicket as they chased a modest 193 target.

But then Hamilton returned for an amazing second spell in which he snatched five for 13 in just four overs and dazed Sussex crumbled to 143 all out.

Bevan, handicapped by a shoulder injury caused when he fell fielding a ball during Yorkshire's innings, never looked in any trouble on his way to 67. But when Hamilton rejoined the attack Bevan was bowled playing over the next ball.

Two balls later Hamilton pinned Baz Zuiderent lbw and the collapse continued in Hamilton's next over as Adams played Hamilton to deep backward square leg and failed to beat substitute Vic Craven's throw to wicket-keeper Richard Blakey while attempting a second run.

Robin Martin-Jenkins survived a confident shout for lbw off his first delivery, but the next from Hamilton was beautifully scooped up at slip by Anthony McGrath, and the tail subsided to Hamilton and Ian Fisher.

At the beginning of their innings, Sussex were badly shaken by Matthew Hoggard who got rid of openers Richard Mont-gomerie and Umer Rashid before either had scored.

It was an almost identical start to that of Yorkshire who lost skipper David Byas and Simon Widdup for ducks, Byas being lbw to the first ball of the match from James Kirtley and Widdup being snapped up at slip by Adams off Martin-Jenkins.

Former Yorkshire paceman Mark Robin-son had McGrath edging a second catch to Adams, but Darren Lehmann continued to monopolise the batting until he chipped Robinson to wide mid-on and was caught by Will House for 80.

Lehmann did not take the field because of back spasms during the tea interval, but he did manage to add another two years on his contract which keeps him at Yorkshire until the end of 2003.

With Lehmann having gone, Hamilton took charge as he raced to a career-best 57 not out from 58 balls, including six fours and two sixes.