Yorkshire Phoenix overcame both Worcestershire Royals and the tantrums of South African fast bowler Nantie Hayward to win the bottom-of-the-table clash in Division One of the National League at Scarborough yesterday.

It was Yorkshire's third consecutive home win in the competition and although they continue to prop up everyone else they now have a ray of hope of going on to avoid relegation.

Chasing a modest target of 171 on a turning pitch, Yorkshire owed their three-wicket success to a fighting knock of 60 from Matthew Wood who returned the frequent taunts and glares from the over-heated Hayward with a gentle smile.

There were occasions, however, when Hayward's behaviour and bad temper was completely unacceptable - like when Michael Lumb thrashed him for three boundaries in four balls and then cut straight to Justin Kemp at backward point who was unsure whether he had taken a low catch cleanly.

While umpires Barrie Leadbeater and Mike Harris conferred, Hayward walked down the pitch to Lumb and signalled for him to depart and then when the left-hander was correctly given not out the South African approached Leadbeater and had a snarl at him.

Although Hayward regularly taunted Wood, the opener batted superbly and played some glorious strokes, particularly in the early part of his innings when he punished Kabir Ali with three firmly struck fours.

Wood kept his cool while wickets fell at the other end and by the time he was brilliantly caught at mid-wicket by Kabir Ali he had faced 117 balls and hit eight boundaries. Lumb also played well for his 22 and Tim Bresnan eased the pressure later on with some robust batting which brought him 23 before he went for a big drive at Hayward and sliced a high catch to Kabir at third man.

By then, Yorkshire were almost home and dry and Richard Dawson settled the issue with a boundary off Kabir with three overs remaining.

Worcestershire were always struggling after Steve Kirby had dismissed Solanki in his first over and the 5,500 crowd roared in delight when his next ball plucked out the off-stump of chief dangerman, Graeme Hick. Kirby ended with career-best figures of three for 27.

Dawson gave his most confident display in a long while in picking up three for 26 in eight overs, including the wicket of Worcestershire captain Ben Smith