STEVE Kirby returned career-best figures of three for 27 to leave Worcestershire deep in relegation trouble as Yorkshire clinched a three-wicket victory in the National League Division One clash at Scarborough.

A crowd of over 5,000 saw the Royals bowled out for 170 with one ball of their 45 overs left, paceman Kirby having removed dangermen Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick with successive deliveries.

Solanki edged the fast bowler to wicketkeeper Richard Blakey and Hick lost his off-stump, leaving skipper Ben Smith to provide the backbone of Worcestershire's innings.

He hit four boundaries in his total of 56 from 98 balls and put on 62 in 14 overs with David Leatherdale (23).

Steve Rhodes forged an unbeaten 35 from 56 balls at the end of the innings but after Kirby's initial blast the Royals were further undermined by some good spin bowling from Richard Dawson.

He had Smith stumped and also removed Gareth Batty and Matt Mason to finish with three for 26, his first wickets of the season in this competition.

Yorkshire also had their problems in batting on a used pitch as Mason bowled nine overs for only 15 runs including the wicket of Stephen Fleming, who was caught by wicketkeeper Rhodes for a duck in the third over.

But Matthew Wood kept them going by driving a series of early boundaries, notably off Kabir Ali, on his way to 60 from 117 balls, which included eight boundaries in all.

He had useful support from Michael Lumb, with 22, but Phoenix still needed some beefy late hitting from Tim Bresnan, who hit Hick for the only six of the match along with three fours in his 23 made off only 25 balls.

There was a flashpoint in Nantie Hayward's fifth over when Lumb survived an appeal for a catch by Justin Kemp at cover point.

Hayward gesticulated towards Lumb and also showed his frustration to umpire Barrie Leadbeater but had calmed down by the time he returned for his second spell.

He took a couple of wickets but could not prevent Yorkshire from winning with three overs to spare.