Yorkshire defeated in quick time (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Yorkshire defeated in quick time

6:18pm Tuesday 16th October 2012 in Sport By Graham Hardcastle

Bradford's Anthony McGrath is not expected to secure a deal with Yorkshire for the 2013 season

Yorkshire suffered a landslide Champions League t20 defeat against Sydney Sixers at Newlands in Cape Town today.

The White Rose opened their Group B campaign with an eight-wicket loss as they only posted 96-9, their second lowest total in Twenty20 history.

Sydney knocked off the runs required with 67 balls to spare, signalling only Yorkshire's third defeat in 18 Twenty20 matches this year.

It came on the back last week's stunning qualifying wins against UVA Next and Trinidad and Tobago.

A clash with the hallmark of men versus boys actually began well for the Tykes, who elected to bat first and scored 19 off the first two overs.

Thirteen runs came off Mitchell Starc's opening over, but there was only one other double-figure over as Joe Root top-scored with 25 off 24 balls, including the sole six.

It will have been no surprise to Yorkshire fans to see Starc finish with 3-21 from his four overs, including two in the last of the innings.

And another former Yorkshire player enjoyed his afternoon too as Michael Lumb top-scored with 43 not out off 24 balls in reply. Captain Brad Haddin also hit a blistering 41 off 21.

"I thought we started quite spritely," said Yorkshire skipper Andrew Gale, whose side only scored 24 runs between the start of the third over and the end of the tenth.

"That period from the fourth to the 11th or 12th, the game changed on its head. A par score was around 150 or 160."

Only Root and Phil Jaques (21 off 19 balls) passed 20, while Gale was one of three frontline batsmen who struggled against the tearaway pace trio of Starc, Pat Cummins (2-13) and Josh Hazlewood (1-9).

Gale posted eight off 18 balls, Adam Lyth 18 off 25 and Gary Ballance eight off 17.

Yorkshire could not recover, and Starc's dismissals of big mate Azeem Rafiq and Steve Patterson in the last over put the tin lid on things.

Yorkshire's defence of their total, however unlikely success seemed, started well as Ryan Sidebottom had Shane Watson caught at deep backward square-leg after seven balls.

But that only served to bring Haddin to the crease, who teed off in devastating fashion in a 78-run stand in seven overs for the second wicket with Lumb before falling to Rafiq with the first ball of ninth.

Yorkshire may have to win their last three group matches to secure a semi-final berth because their net run-rate has taken such a hit, starting with Mumbai Indians on Thursday (4.30pm UK).

Meanwhile, Bradfordian Anthony McGrath is not expected to secure a new deal with the county for 2013.