Yorkshire's title chances were dealt a severe blow when they suffered a crushing defeat by an innings and 261 runs against Sussex.

Hampshire are still very much in the frame and they play Yorkshire at Headingley Carnegie in the final match of the season, starting on September 19.

It was a thoroughly abject display by Yorkshire, who were outplayed and outwitted in every aspect.

They have lost the sharpness they showed at the start of the summer, when they won three of their first four fixtures to lead the table.

Now they have lost three of their last four matches and the margin of the defeat by Sussex was the second largest by an innings in their history, the only greater one being when they lost to Surrey by an innings and 272 runs at The Oval in 1989

The only person to emerge with any credit was 19-year-old Adil Rashid, who followed up his three wickets with an unbeaten 54 in his first knock to give him a maiden century and three half-centuries in four consecutive innings.

Yorkshire were already on the rack at the start of the third day when they resumed on 188 for seven, still 260 runs away from an innings defeat, and Rashid took his overnight 32 to 54 before running out of partners.

Leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed was the outstanding bowler with five for 89 off 30 tantalising overs but Rana Naved and left-arm fast bowler Jason Lewry did much of the damage second time around as Yorkshire were snuffed out for 89 in 44.1 overs, with Sussex all done and dusted well before tea.

The rot set in as soon as Michael Vaughan lost his off-stump when he played on to Rana Naved with the score on 18 and Saqlain accounted for Andrew Gale, caught at slip.

Anthony McGrath showed promise until he looked aggrieved to be given lbw on the back foot against Lewry, who then had Jacques Rudolph playing into his stumps.

Half the side were out for 66 when Gerard Brophy pushed forward at Saqlain and was caught off bat and pad and the last real hope was extinguished as Richard Montgomerie held a sharp slip catch off Lewry to bring about another failure for Inzamam-ul-Haq.

Tim Bresnan was lbw to Saqlain without scoring and Rana Naved was shrewdly returned for a fresh spell to end the match by shattering the stumps of Rashid, Matthew Hoggard and Imran Tahir in the space of five balls.

Darren Gough is expected to return to lead the side tomorrow in their NatWest Pro40 game against Kent at Canterbury.

Adil Rashid, was voted Young Cricketer of the Year by The Cricket Writers' Club at their annual dinner.