Yorkshire hurled themselves into the thick of Championship promotion battle by hammering Somerset by nine wickets at Headingley, despite losing Damien Martyn and Steve Kirby for parts of the game through injury.

The maximum points they took from the three-day win pushed them up from fifth place in the Second Division table and into the third promotion spot, three-and-a-half points ahead of their nearest rivals, Glamorgan.

It was a victory which was absolutely necessary for Yorkshire to maintain a challenge and it sets them up for a thrilling finish with two games remaining.

Had Yorkshire not let several catches slip in Somerset's second innings they would have romped home far sooner but they still made easy work of reaching their 132 target in 26.1 overs even though they had to bat in gloomy evening light.

Craig White was skittled by a shooter from Richard Johnson but Matthew Wood and Anthony McGrath sent Yorkshire cruising to their fourth win of the season with an unbroken stand of 103.

McGrath amply made up for his first ball duck in the first innings by playing some thoroughbred shots in an unbeaten 67 from 74 balls with a dozen fours, while Wood cantered to 53 not out from 72 deliveries with six boundaries to notch his second half-century of the match.

Although saddened by the absence at the start of the day of Martyn, who was nursing his broken nose, Yorkshire were cheered by the return of Kirby after recovering from his collapse while bowling on Wednesday.

Somerset resumed on 94-2 with Neil Edwards already having made 55 and there was a cheer when Kirby came on to bowl at 120-2. After getting into his rhythm he responded by taking a low return catch to claim the vital wicket of Edwards for 90 off 157 balls with 14 boundaries.

Kirby went on to collect another prize scalp in Australian Jamie Cox for a tenacious 51 and he also held the catch at deep mid-on which sent back Ian Blackwell for a threatening 48 when he wafted at a ball from Richard Dawson.

The dismissal of Blackwell left Somerset on 266-6 and Andrew was out soon afterwards as he pulled at Dawson and was breathtakingly caught at deep backward square leg by the diving Gough who then pinned Rob Turner lbw in a fiery spell, leaving Matthew Hoggard to rout the tail.

Fast bowlers Chris Silverwood and Ryan Sidebottom were having fitness tests at Headingley today before Yorkshire Phoenix finalised their side for tomorrow's do-or-die clash with Worcestershire Royals at New Road.

The two teams each have 16 points and prop up the rest in the First Division of the National League. Whoever loses is certain to be relegated.

If Yorkshire win they will then need to beat Essex Eagles in the day-night encounter at Chelmsford on Wednesday and follow it up with a victory over Gloucestershire Gladiators on the last day of the season at Headingley on Sunday, September 21.

Although Australian Damien Martyn is out tomorrow with a broken nose, he will accompany Yorkshire to Worcester on the team coach so that he can lend his support to the team.

Yorkshire Phoenix (v Worcestershire Royals) from: Wood, White, McGrath, Lumb, Craven, Blakey, Dawson, Gough, Silverwood, Hoggard, Kirby, Hamilton, Sidebottom, Bresnan.

Updated: 11:13 Saturday, September 06, 2003