Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale stated in the build-up to the Friends Provident Twenty20 clash with Warwickshire that his side needed to win their last three games to qualify from the North Division.

Unfortunately his team fell at the first hurdle in Birmingham as they were beaten by 14 runs.

It means that with two matches left, the Tykes are now three points behind Derbyshire – who occupy the all-important fourth spot in the table – and although the latest disappointment is not terminal to their chances, it is a massive blow.

The reason for this latest defeat can be put down to a poor batting display. Despite only needing to chase down 146 to win, they were all out for just 131 thanks to a disciplined Warwickshire bowling display.

Only three players managed to reach 20 and had it not been for a late partnership from Clint McKay and Rich Pyrah, the contest would have been finished far earlier than the last-over finish which the Edgbaston crowd were treated to.

The writing was on the wall early, with Gale out for one in the second over, and by the end of the tenth the Tykes were four down with Herschelle Gibbs, Adam Lyth and Jonathan Bairstow back in the hut.

At that stage the score was at 75-4 and with three wickets then falling in consecutive overs, the total soon slumped to 102-7 after 16.

Then came McKay and Pyrah, who added 32 for the eighth wicket to take the game into the final six balls with 16 runs needed for victory.

But they both perished, along with David Wainwright, to former Blackburn Rovers footballer Keith Barker as the innings came to an abrupt end and left the hosts second in the table.

Yorkshire’s failure with the bat was all the more frustrating given their excellent display with the ball.

The returning Wainwright, making his first appearance for the county since early June, and Steve Patterson took three wickets apiece to restrict the hosts to 145-8.

In a further blow, Yorkshire have confirmed that England paceman Ajmal Shahzad will not be available for their last two fixtures in the competition.

Shahzad was released from the national side for this week’s three games but a scan on his hamstring injury has shown some fluid in the area.

That means he will not now play at either Nottinghamshire on Saturday or Derbyshire on Sunday.

The Tykes will almost certainly have to win both of those games if they are to have a chance of staying in this season’s competition.