Lancashire's batting woes sunk to a new depth yesterday - even though the weather spared them the embarrassment of a Friends Provident Trophy defeat against Yorkshire at Headingley.

The Red Rose county were bowled out for a paltry 89 in 31.2 overs of a North Division game that they had to win to have any chance of reaching the quarter finals.

Yorkshire were well on the way to completing victory when the rain came down with them at 34-0 after 4.5 overs, chasing 90 for victory.

The Lightning's day began badly with the news that captain Stuart Law could be out for up to three weeks with a broken right index finger that he sustained while batting in the nets on Tuesday.

And that left stand-in skipper Luke Sutton to take the flak for a bemusing decision to bat first under overhead conditions at a Leeds venue famous for its bowler friendly conditions.

Yorkshire captain Darren Gough, who took 3-17 from eight overs, later admitted that he would have bowled first.

And Sutton said of the decision: "Predominantly it was me, Mike Watkinson and Stuey. We also put it to a few senior players, and then the whole squad just before we tossed up.

"Everyone was in agreement that we should bat first. I have got to take the brunt of it because I am captain.

"It was a used wicket, which they had played previously against Scotland. They described it as an excellent wicket - one of the best wickets they have seen at Headingley.

"We knew that there were overhead conditions, but the outfield was very wet."

Sutton, who saw only two of his batsman in Kyle Hogg and the recalled Iain Sutcliffe reach double figures, added: "It was a pretty poor day for us from start to finish, and I am glad that it's over.

"I don't think that we have played our best cricket throughout the competition, and we have not qualified as a result.

"We have to draw a line under it and get on with it."

Lancashire have only passed 200 once in the competition - and lost to Scotland, Durham and Derbyshire. In all truth, they didn't deserve to qualify for the latter stages.

The Red Rose county will train at Headingley later today, and could have injured duo Dominic Cork and Tom Smith back in contention for tomorrow's County Championship match against the White Rose.