Groundsman Andy Fogarty and his dedicated staff transformed Headingley from a swamp into a field on which a 17-overs-a-side totesport League match could be played last night but his efforts were all in vain so far as Yorkshire Phoenix were concerned.

Chasing a 129-run target, they could manage only 99 for seven and the 29-run defeat all but put an end to their promotion hopes.

Yorkshire never looked like mastering Derbyshire Scorpions' keen attack from the moment Ian Harvey flicked a ball from Moham-mad Ali to Hassan Adnan in front of square leg and wickets went down regularly as batsmen became increasingly desperate.

Yorkshire were floundering on 46 for five with only five overs remaining. It was an impossible situation for Vic Craven and Tim Bresnan but they hit out lustily to add 47 in four overs before departing to consecutive balls, Bresnan being bowled by Ali for 26 and Bresnan edging John Moss to Luke Sutton for 21.

Derbyshire's innings of 128 for five was shaped around a fine 54 not out from Australian Moss, the opener facing 49 balls.

Derbyshire's most productive stand was 71 in nine overs for the third wicket by Moss and Adnan, who was the first of three consecutive dismissals in the final over from Harvey.