Rich Pyrah returned a superb 3-15 from four overs to help Yorkshire fight back and secure a breathtaking Friends Life t20 tie against Lancashire at Headingley last night.

The Red Rose county were well placed chasing a 153 victory target at 92-2 in the 12th over but then lost their way spectacularly.

Lancashire failed to get 33 off the final three overs and ten off the last bowled by Ryan Sidebottom, who only conceded two off the last ball to Steven Croft when three were needed.

This does not do much for Yorkshire’s chances of getting out of the North Division because they are bottom of the group, having not won in three games ahead of Tuesday’s must-win home clash with Leicestershire.

Yorkshire’s batsmen failed to take advantage of an excellent start at 59-1 towards the end of the eighth over having lost the toss. They should have been looking at a score in the region of 170 instead of 152-6.

Opener Phil Jaques returned to the side for the first time since mid-June due to an abdominal strain to top-score with 66 off 57 balls.

Yorkshire were hurt by their lack of a substantial partnership as an opening stand of 32 in 4.1 over between Jaques and captain Andrew Gale was not bettered.

Lancashire got their chase off to a flyer thanks to opener Tom Smith, who hit four fours and a six in taking 24 off Jack Brooks in the fourth over to help his side reach 42-0 after four.

Simon Katich and Karl Brown, both bowled by Pyrah, shared 44 for the third wicket to advance the score from 48-2 in the sixth and enhance their side’s chances of winning.

But Lancashire were later furious at umpires Rob Bailey and Neil Bainton for not awarding a no ball for Liam Plunkett’s delivery to Gareth Cross that looked comfortably above waist height. Cross under-edged it onto his stumps to leave the Lightning at 118-5 in the 17th over.

A similar decision in the Yorkshire innings was given in the hosts’ favour when Pyrah hit Mitchell McClenaghan to a diving Croft at long-on.

If anything Plunkett’s ball was higher and it seemed that the umpires were flummoxed by a Cross under-edge.