Yorkshire Phoenix made sure of staying in the CGU National League's top flight by signing off with a splendid 28-run victory over Warwickshire Bears.

Had Phoenix lost yesterday, they would have had to wait to see how results panned out next Sunday, but now they are safe whatever happens.

A crowd approaching 10,000 saw Yorkshire bat with great enterprise to reach 238 for three - their highest score of the season - and they then gave a marvellous fielding exhibition to keep the lid on a spirited reply.

Craig White ended the match by bowling Michael Powell with nine balls remaining to finish with four for 39, while Richard Blakey distinguished himself with three catches and two stumpings to give him 32 dismissals for the season - a total which is almost certain to bring him the top wicketkeeper's prize.

Winning the toss, Yorkshire got off to their best start of the campaign with an opening stand of 96 between White and Michael Vaughan in which both batsmen played some powerful shots, White driving off-spinner Neil Smith over long-off for six.

The pair were parted when White stepped down the pitch to Smith but missed and was left stranded, his 43 coming off 68 balls with three fours and a six.

The good start allowed David Byas to be positive from the start and he soon drove Dougie Brown over long-on for six, but when Vaughan tried to hit Tim Mun-ton out of the ground, he was well caught on the square- leg boundary by David Hemp for 56 from 86 deliveries (six fours).

Byas steamed to his 50 before walloping Brown for a second six over long-on, and the captain had blasted 67 off 57 balls with six fours when he was caught hitting out at Smith, leaving Blakey (34 not out) and Anthony McGrath (20 not out) to dash 42 from the last five overs.

Ryan Sidebottom put Warwick-shire on the defensive with a wicket in each of his first two overs, thanks to two stunning catches, Byas diving far to his right at second slip to hold Smith's nudge and Gary Fellows swooping in the covers to send back Nick Knight.

Hemp and Dominic Ostler staged a recovery until White intervened with two wickets in five balls to make it 67 for four.

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