THE Bradford Mafia, assisted by South African paceman, Nantie Hayward, sent title holders Yorkshire crashing out of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy at New Road yesterday as Worcestershire toppled them by 67 runs.

Old Bradfordians David Leatherdale, Steve Rhodes and Gareth Batty came back to haunt their home county. Man-of-the-match Leatherdale hit a career-best score of 80, plus took four catches, off-spinner Batty helped to turn the game by dismissing Michael Vaughan and Rhodes also contributed with an important 29 which took his side's score to a competitive 244-8.

Hayward played a big part with final figures of 5-49, leaving Yorkshire's season in tatters after so much had been promised up to its start.

Yorkshire were not helped by the late withdrawal of Anthony McGrath or by losing Matthew Hoggard to a knee injury after bowling just three deliveries, but resistance quickly crumbled in the latter part of their innings, the last six wickets crashing for 32 runs in nine overs.

Matthew Wood put Worcestershire in to bat and Darren Gough struck in the fourth over by dismissing Stephen Peters but Gough was then punished by Vikram Solanki and Graeme Hick, who helped themselves to five boundaries in two overs to have him pulled out of the attack.

Hoggard came on and his first ball flew off the top edge of Hick's bat into the hands of Michael Lumb but two balls later he injured his right knee during his follow through.

Ben Smith and Andrew Hall both went cheaply and Solanki's fighting innings of 60 from 56 balls was ended by off-spinner Andy Gray.

Batty fell lbw to Tim Bresnan, but Leatherdale and Rhodes put the home side back in control with a 79-stand before Rhodes was neatly stumped by Richard Blakey to give Vaughan his first wicket of the season. Leatherdale went on to make 80 off 87 balls.

Yorkshire got off to the worst possible start as a ball from Hayward climbed on Lumb in the first over and Batty took a simple catch.

Chris Silverwood managed one or two frantic blows until Hayward knocked back his stumps to bring in Wood, who batted sensible with Vaughan to put on 74 in 19 overs.

Matthew Mason ended the partnership by having Wood caught by Leatherdale, who grasped an even more valuable catch as Vaughan was outwitted by Batty and played softly to mid-wicket.

Yuvraj Singh threatened a recovery with Blakey and made encouraging progress but Hayward returned to beat him for pace and Yorkshire subsided rapidly.

Updated: 11:32 Thursday, May 29, 2003