Yorkshire Phoenix turned in another shocking performance against Leicestershire Foxes at Headingley yesterday in what has turned into one of their bleakest season's in one-day league cricket.

Chasing Leicestershire's competitive score of 253 for eight, Yorkshire's challenge was soon in tatters as they slumped to 11 for three inside the first three overs.

They were eventually bowled out for 120, losing by 133 runs with 57 balls remaining.

Yorkshire were captained by Richard Dawson in the absence of Craig White (sore knee) and they were also without Phil Jaques in what would have been his farewell appearance before joining up with Australia A today on their tour of Pakistan.

Jaques would dearly have loved to sign off with a big score but he was still suffering from the stiff back which caused him to miss last week's debacle against Kent Crusaders at Canterbury.

Ajmal Shahzad was denied a seasonal debut because of injury but despite all these setbacks, Yorkshire had few excuses for such a lacklustre showing.

Put in to bat, Leicestershire were given a scorching start by Darren Robinson and Darren Maddy who helped themselves to several boundaries off Deon Kruis and David Lucas.

Maddy started the spree with three consecutive fours off Kruis and he later hit a further three fours in an over off the South African who otherwise bowled fairly tightly. The openers had rattled up 81 by the 13th over and the breakthrough for Yorkshire came when Robinson was slow to respond to his partner's call for a single and was beaten by Richard Pyrah's direct hit on the stumps.

Maddy hurried on to 54 from 53 balls with 11 boundaries before Dawson deceived him into giving a catch to Anthony McGrath at short mid-wicket and although it became 118 for three when captain HD Ackerman was caught behind off the acting captain, Leicestershire did not falter.

Dinesh Mongia hit a stylish 39 and was then bowled by McGrath but Aftab Habib survived a chance to Pyrah at mid-on when 20 and went on to make an unbeaten 65 from 62 balls with four fours and a six.

Yorkshire needed a good start but it failed to materialise and the slide started in the first over from Ottis Gibson with Matthew Wood edging his first ball to wicketkeeper, Paul Nixon. Michael Lumb was lbw to a swinging delivery from Charl Willoughby and when Ian Harvey was out in similar style to Gibson, Yorkshire were under the cosh.

Pyrah was caught mishooking at Gibson and half the side were out for 53 when Joe Sayers was run-out.

McGrath battled away resolutely for 20 overs in which he made 21 but he tried to hit left-arm spinner, Claude Henderson, over mid-wicket and was caught on the rope by Maddy.

As was the case at Canterbury, only Simon Guy showed any real spirit and he achieved his career-best score for the second time in consecutive innings. He pulled Gibson for six into the crowd and straight drove Jeremy Snape for four but was last out for 40 when Henderson flung out his right arm to pluck a return catch out of the air.

Yorkshire are short on self-belief but must recover their poise in time for Wednesday when they continue their push for promotion in the Championship by taking on Worcestershire at Headingley.