Captain David Byas overtook Geoff Boycott as Yorkshire's heaviest scorer in county league cricket during his powerful knock of 48 which helped Phoenix to a five-wicket win over Somerset Sabres in their opening Norwich Union National League match of the season at Headingley yesterday.

Byas, playing in his 202nd match, overhauled Boycott's tally of 5,051 runs to go two ahead.

Yorkshire could not have had a much more encouraging start to their Division One programme - they won with ten overs to spare - but it did not look as if it would be easy until Anthony McGrath joined Byas at 21 for one in the chase towards a 155 target.

The pitch was slow and unpredictable and Matthew Wood had just been dismissed by an unplayable shooter from Steffan Jones, but the second-wicket pair then took the attack to Somerset in an uncompromising stand of 72 in 15 overs during which both batsmen played some glorious shots.

McGrath sprayed the field with seven boundaries in his first 32 runs while Byas planted off-spinner Keith Dutch for two straight sixes, one of them crashing against the football stand close to the players' balcony.

In attempting to go to his 50 with a similar shot, however, Byas chipped his drive straight into the air for Jamie Cox to take the catch close to the bowler.

Somerset were handicapped by opening bowler Graham Rose having to retire hurt with a knee strain after his first over but the flurry of runs had taken the sting out of their attack and Yorkshire were hurried nearer their goal by three brisk fours from Darren Lehmann who then fell leg before wicket to Jason Kerr.

McGrath continued to look the part and he had breezed on to 58 from 83 balls with 11 boundaries when he shaped to cut Ian Blackwell only to deflect the ball into his stumps.

Gary Fellows was trapped leg before without scoring but Michael Lumb ended the match in the grand manner with a big six.

With Yorkshire agreeing to England's request to omit new Test recruit Ryan Sidebottom and also deciding to rest Chris Silverwood, their side had a much-changed look about it, particularly as Gavin Hamilton was ruled unfit with his shin problems.

There were competition debuts for Lumb and Tom Baker while Paul Hutchison, James Middlebrook and Matthew Wood all made their first appearances of the season and Matthew Hoggard returned after his back injury.

Hutchison had a particularly satisfying comeback with three wickets, Hoggard gave away only 14 runs in eight overs and Somerset were tied down in the middle of their innings by the spin of Lehmann and Middlebrook who each captured two wickets.

Only Rose offered any significant resistance with a rugged 58 from 98 deliveries with four boundaries but he was out when Baker took a well judged catch on the mid-wicket boundary off the bowling of Middlebrook.