GLENN McGrath certainly didn't let the Worcestershire fans down when he finally displayed his world-class bowling talents at New Road.

The Australian pace star produced the remarkable figures of 9-6-9-4, but it still wasn't enough to prevent the County losing by 19 runs in their opening Norwich Union National League Division One match of the season against Yorkshire Phoenix.

McGrath was virtually un-playable and delighted County followers with a six over opening spell, all maidens and including the wicket of Craig White with his tenth delivery.

When he returned to the attack later he was even more deadly.

His first ball back accounted for Michael Vaughan before he eventually conceded his first runs off his 39th delivery.

Yorkshire then fell further under his magical spell when he saw off Michael Wood and Gavin Hamilton. For McGrath it was a highly satisfying performance, particularly as he conceded only five scoring strokes.

Yorkshire, who had been put in, finally managed to make their way to 151-8, a tally boosted by a 79-run third wicket partnership between Darren Lehmann and Richard Blakey.

Lehmann notched 46 including one six and three fours off 89 balls while wicketkeeper Blakey scored 27 with the help of three fours off 77 deliveries.

On a seaming pitch with pace and bounce, skipper Graeme Hick's Worcestershire Royals were always going to have their work cut out to eclipse Yorkshire's total and it soon became apparent that McGrath's earlier heroics may not have been enough.

Vikram Solanki, Hick and Reuben Spiring were all out by the time 25 runs were on the board. Their fortunes were not helped when Paul Pollard tweaked a hamstring and required a runner.

He limped on, however, and also lost the companionship of Elliott Wilson and David Leatherdale before he became one of paceman Gavin Hamilton's haul of 3-29.

When he had made four Pollard completed 3,000 runs in the competition, 2,730 of them for Nottinghamshire.

Stuart Lampitt fell cheaply before Worcestershire were given a flicker of hope by their Yorkshire born duo Steve Rhodes and Richard Illingworth.

They put on 43 in 11 overs before the stand was broken when Illingworth departed for 16.