Yorkshire Phoenix carried out an astonishing batting revival at Grace Road yesterday, but it was still not quite enough to stop Leicestershire Foxes from achieving a thrilling five-wicket victory in the Norwich Union League.

They won with two balls to spare when 36-year-old Phil DeFreitas blasted a mighty six over long-on off 17-year-old Tim Bresnan.

The Foxes' win meant that Durham cannot now escape relegation.

After winning the toss, Yorkshire plumbed the depths by losing their first four wickets for one run to Jamie Grove and DeFreitas.

But new Australian signing Matthew Elliott and Anthony McGrath transformed the situation with a sparkling stand of 181.

Elliott, in his first coloured clothing innings, marked his debut with a rugged 109, Yorkshire's highest individual knock of the season, while McGrath was also as solid as a rock in compiling 78.

Yorkshire's total of 229 for six, however, was not enough to worry Leicestershire too much on a good batting track and they powered their way home with telling contributions from Darren Stevens (85) and young Indian Mohammad Kaif (60 not out).

Kaif is at Grace Road for only a week until Javagal Srinath arrives for the remainder of the season as Michael Bevan's replacement.

The early collapse was the result of some wild strokes with both Vic Craven and Matthew Wood going in the second over, Craven getting a massive top-edge off Grove and Wood smearing straight to Kaif at square leg.

Richard Dawson was lbw to DeFreitas, who bowled Michael Vaughan middle stump as the England opener attempted a frenzied pull.

As in the Roses match, Elliott soon showed his excellent temperament, moving easily from defence to attack, as when he drove Charlie Dagnall for a towering straight six.

McGrath was just as convincing until he fell to a poor stroke when he hit a Dagnall full toss to mid-wicket after making his runs off 104 balls with eight fours.

Elliott completed a faultless century before being taken on the mid-wicket boundary by Rob Cunliffe, his 109 containing 12 fours and a six and coming off 114 deliveries.

Leicestershire quickly showed they meant business and Stevens was the driving force until he was sensationally caught on the long on boundary by Craven.

Even then, Leicestershire looked firm favourites and at 169 for four Kaif, on 34, survived an easy chance to McGrath at mid-on. Yorkshire kept plugging away, however, and it seemed as if they were going to pull it off until DeFreitas's big drive, which left Kaif unbeaten with four boundaries in his 60.