LANCASHIRE Lightning's Twenty20 Cup campaign is in danger of crumbling into ruins after a third successive defeat at the hands of Yorkshire at Old Trafford last night.

The Tykes dramatically defended a below par score of 135-8, claiming their fourth win on the bounce by four runs in front of a 17,000 sellout crowd.

And to make matters even worse for the Lightning, star all-rounder Andrew Flintoff was out for a first-ball duck on his first team return after six weeks out with a left side strain.

Lancashire should have won at a canter after Simon Marshall's 3-11 from his three overs topped off a fine display in the field.

But England hopeful Tim Bresnan finished with superb figures of 2-12 from his four overs, defending 12 runs needed off the last over, to clinch the man-of-the-match award from the television cameras.

Flintoff was trapped lbw for his third first ball duck of the season. The 30-year-old is hoping to bowl in a match at some point in the next week.

He said: "I can't rush it. Everything has got to be right. To go from 80 per cent to 100 per cent is a big move."

Lancashire face North Division high-flyers Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge tomorrow.