YORKSHIRE’S hopes of qualifying for the quarter finals of the Friends Provident Twenty20 are hanging by a thread after losing their seventh North Division match of the campaign against Lancashire at Old Trafford last night.

The White Rose county failed to make the most of their racing start, posting 162-8 after 190 or even 200 had looked more likely with Herschelle Gibbs and Adam Lyth together in a dangerous second wicket stand.

Gibbs top scored for the visitors with 51 off 36 balls, and he shared a second wicket stand of 50 with Lyth and 48 with Jacques Rudolph.

The 36-year-old South African also became the first man to pass 400 runs in this group.

But Lancashire’s success in Twenty20 cricket at Old Trafford – they have only lost seven in 34 matches here – has been built around their spinners bowling to large boundaries, and it is hard to argue with their belief that they are the best fielding team in the country.

Stephen Moore’s 59 off 32 balls underpinned the chase, and they eased in with five wickets and an over to spare.

England Lions new boy Stephen Parry claimed 3-17 from his four overs for the hosts, while fellow left arm spinner Simon Kerrigan returned 1-29.

New Zealander Nathan Mc- Cullum also took three super catches added to an impressive tumbling effort from Kerrigan at mid on.

Lyth had given the visitors, whose returning captain Andrew Gale elected to bat, a flyer with five fours and a six in 36 off 22 balls.

Yorkshire had reached 130- 3 after 15 overs, but they scored only 32 runs and lost five wickets in the last 30 balls of the innings.

Moore then raced to a 24- ball half century hitting Rich Pyrah for three consecutive boundaries in the fourth.

Pyrah then picked up the wicket of Tom Smith with the fourth ball of that fourth over, caught at mid wicket by Gibbs. But the hosts had reached 61-1 after the six overs of powerplay.

Moore, who hit ten fours and a six, then lobbed a catch up to Gale at cover off the bowling of Pyrah in the ninth over to keep Yorkshire hopes alive.

Steven Croft, however, put his side in a stronger position with 36 off 28 balls. The allrounder hit Adil Rashid for six over long on, but fell trying to repeat the dose next ball.

Pyrah later claimed his third wicket when he bowled McCullum for 14 in the 17th over. But, with Lancs at 143- 4, it was too little too late.

Paul Horton also added a calm unbeaten 37 not out off 30 balls to seal it for Lancashire.

Captain Gale told the television cameras afterwards: “I think we need to win all three (of our remaining matches) to qualify.”

The White Rose do not play until they travel to face Warwickshire at Edgbaston on Wednesday night.