Yorkshire Phoenix skipper David Byas made sure his side marred the centenary celebrations at New Road yesterday with a commanding innings of 87 which brought victory by three wickets against Worcestershire Royals.

But it was a desperately close call as Yorkshire went past Worcestershire's 212 for five with just four balls remaining and, for the second week running, it was left to 20-year-old Gary Fellows to hit the winning runs while under extreme pressure.

Time seemed to be running out on Yorkshire when they needed nine off two overs, but Fellows calmly drove Alamgir Sheriyar through extra cover for four and in the last over he settled the issue by hammering Matthew Rawnsley just wide of cover where Paul Pollard slipped and fell while attempting to reach the ball.

Yorkshire have an excellent record in one-day games at New Road and their win gave them two wins from two matches in Division One of the new CGU National League.

An opening stand of 72 in 13 overs between Byas and Australian Greg Blewett gave Yorkshire the perfect start and it meant they had plenty of overs in hand when they needed to regroup. Blewett hit the ball handsomely off his hips and it was a surprise when he was bowled by Gavin Haynes for 27.

Craig White and Michael Vaughan perished to the left-arm spin of Richard Illingworth and Rawnsley but Byas remained firmly in charge until he cut at Duncan Catterall and was caught behind, his 87 coming off 104 balls with ten fours.

Anthony McGrath (26) and Richard Blakey (21) batted steadily together but when both fell in the same over from Sheriyar, it was left once again to Fellows to demonstrate his cool nerves.

Put in to bat, Worcestershire owed their score almost entirely to Haynes and Bradford-born David Leatherdale who took part in an exciting 133 stand in 24 overs for the fourth wicket.

Haynes thrashed 66 off 93 balls with six fours before skying a catch to Byas at mid-on and Leatherdale finished unbeaten on 70 with six fours and a six.

Chris Silverwood was the pick of Yorkshire's bowlers with three for 30, getting Phil Weston, a century-maker last week, caught behind in the first over before he had scored and forcing Vikram Solanki to drive gently to Ian Fisher in a demanding opening spell.

White struck a useful blow by bowling Pollard to end a solid start by the opener and left-armer Fisher bowled tidily but Hamilton went for 45 in his nine overs and seems to have run out of steam in his build up to the World Cup with Scotland.

Before yesterday's match there was a 20-over match for the Lexion Challenge Trophy between Yorkshire Ladies and Worcestershire Ladies.

Yorkshire were easy winners with Bev Nicholson hitting 49, including four fours and two sixes, in their 126 for five. Tight bowling then restricted Worcestershire to 47 for six.

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