NANTIE Hayward and Gareth Batty took four wickets each as Worcestershire stepped up their bid to become champions of the Frizzell County Championship division two yesterday.

Paceman Hayward claimed 4-37 and off-spinner Batty 4-57 as the County clinched an impressive 71-run win over promotion hopefuls Yorkshire with 20 overs to spare at New Road.

The Tykes had faced a victory target of 236 in a minimum of 76 overs.

But their efforts were dashed by the Hayward-Batty double act which put the seal on a highly entertaining contest -- the best attended Championship match of the season at New Road.

Skipper Ben Smith said: "I think all round this has been one of our better performances, especially against a quality side like Yorkshire who were as near as damn it at full strength.

"We set the standards early on and we managed to get through and play well and post a good first innings score.

"Yorkshire batted just as well to go past us but the pitch was always going to deteriorate. But it was probably one of the better pitches we have played on down here all of the season."

Regarding the Tykes victory target, he added: "I felt anything over 200 would have been a good score, but our team target was a lead of 250, so we fell a little bit short of that.

"But sometimes that can help and inspire you and give you that bit of an urge to bowl better early on which we have done.

"Every bowler has put their hand up in this game and David Wigley on his debut took some big wickets for us. Hayward ran in and ran in and Batty bowled at the class he is as an England bowler."

Despite being without the pace bowling services of Kabir Ali, who injured a foot when he was trapped leg before by Chris Silverwood, the County never allowed Yorkshire to settle and their top scorer in a total of 164 was Richard Blakey (31no).