NOT even more heroics from their specialist Yorkshire

tormentor, Greg Smith, was enough for Derbyshire this time.

The 25-year-old right-hander followed up his unbeaten 100

with another hard-hitting 68 yesterday at Chesterfield but the

Phantoms were beaten by 11-runs in the Twenty20 Cup.

The needless concession of Smith's wicket at the beginning

of the 13th over was to prove a telling moment in the contest,

though it would be unjust to blame a man whose 42-ball salvo

had given his side such a strong chance of overcoming a testing

target of 170.

Anthony McGrath, another batsman with a splendid record in

matches between these counties, carried Yorkshire to that total

with an excellent 72 not out, made off 42 balls with three

fours and six sixes.

It was a lesson in clean, straight hitting and his

demolition of the Derbyshire slower bowlers in the second half

of the innings was the difference between the teams. The fact

that McGrath was still there at the end, helping Yorkshire add

86 off the last seven overs, was also important.

Derbyshire needed Smith to stay after he had flayed the

bowling for 10 fours and a six and it was a frustrating end

from him as he set off at full pelt from the non-striker's end,

even though Wavell Hinds had cut the ball straight to Matthew

Hoggard at backward point, and was run out by a mile by a throw

to the bowler.

That made it 91-2 and, by the end of an eventful over,

Yorkshire had lost spinner David Wainwright with a cut left

hand as he tried to stop a fierce Rikki Clarke drive and

Derbyshire lost Hinds as he skied a pull at replacement bowler

Craig White and was caught at fine leg.

Yet, at the end of that 13th over, the match was still in

Derbyshire's range at 97-3, with 73 needed off seven overs.

Unfortunately, no batsman who followed Smith could make

anything like as firm an impact.

Clarke aimed a huge drive at Richard Pyrah and was caught at

third man for two, Jamie Pipe's brief flourish for 17 ended

with a catch at long off and John Sadler was caught at extra

cover before he had got going.

It came down to 36 off the final two overs and 25 off the

last and that was too much.

McGrath's contribution was the telling one but Derbyshire

had bowled well in the first 11 overs of the Yorkshire innings,

after the away side had won the toss.

Opener Andrew Gale hit 25 and Michael Vaughan, who was

missing when his team came out to field because of a stiff

neck, added a useful 31.

But Yorkshire were 67-3 when Vaughan was caught at deep

midwicket in the 11th over and in danger of falling short, as

Charl Langeveldt, Graham Wagg and Clarke bowled tidily.

After 13, it was 83-4, with Jacques Rudolph gone for five,

but McGrath decided to cut loose and, when he does, he is an

awesome foe.

Two overs from off-spinner Jake Needham cost 34 and an over

in between from Nayan Doshi went for 14 – a blast of 49 runs in

three overs that had Derbyshire rocking.

The last four overs were not quite in the same league, as

the quicker bowlers restored order, but the damage had been

done and the Phantoms are now struggling to stay in the

competition.