Yorkshire’s hopes of an extended run in this year’s Clydesdale Bank 40 are hanging by a thread after a second successive defeat.

Following their shock loss to the Netherlands in their opening game, they were beaten by 52 runs by the Derbyshire Falcons tonight.

Although the competition is only in its early stages, last season the maximum amount of games a semi-finalist lost was three in the group stages. It means the Tykes may now have to win all of their remaining ten matches to qualify for the final four.

To do this they will certainly have to improve on their batting.

Set 246 to win at Headingley, an easily attainable total, they were bowled out for just 193 despite an impressive innings of 74 from captain Andrew Gale.

Things appeared to be heading the Tykes way at the mid-way point of the chase.

Gale and Joe Root, who made 45, had moved the score onto 99 for one to set Yorkshire 147 from the final 20 overs with nine wickets in hand. However, Root was ousted soon after trying to sweep, with the total on 125 for two, and, as has been the case this season, a batting collapse then ensued.

Jonathan Bairstow came and went for only four, before Gale departed to a low catch off his own bowling by Wes Durston to really start the Tykes demise.

At this stage the score was at 145 for four – with the final six wickets then falling for only 48 runs to complete a resounding defeat by the close.

“We cannot afford to bury our heads in the sand,” admitted Gale afterwards, who also saw his side fail to chase down 191 to win against the Netherlands.

"It is a tough competition because it goes straight to the semi-finals, but the lads need to roll their sleeves up and get stuck in. We are facing an uphill challenge to qualify already but stranger things have happened.”

This latest loss will be more disappointing given a decent effort with the ball from the Tykes.

Although Derbyshire started well, reaching 203-4 after winning the toss and electing to bat, five late wickets in the final five overs had appeared to swing the momentum Yorkshire’s way.

A terrific catch from Shahzad off Pyrah to remove Durston for 95 was the catalyst for the late drama but in the end the batting failure meant the Falcons No 3 had already done the damage.

Meanwhile, Anthony McGrath, who missed the defeat with a back injury, has been ruled out of the Tykes’ LV= County Championship match against Nottinghamshire which starts on Wednesday.