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 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's keen attack from the moment Ian Harvey flicked a ball from Mohammad Ali to Hassan Adnan in front of square leg and wickets went down regularly as batsmen became increasingly desperate.

Matthew Wood edged a good delivery from Mo Sheikh to the wicketkeeper and the same bowler had Anthony McGrath taken on the cover boundary before an out-of-sorts Darren Lehmann, having spent 19 balls making nine, gave himself too much room against Nathan Dumelow and was bowled.

Andrew Gale, drafted in to replace the injured Michael Lumb, had his stumps hit heaving at Graeme Welch to leave Yorkshire 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.

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

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