GLENN McGrath inspired Worcester Royals to a crucial Old Trafford win over Norwich Union National League champs Lancashire Lightning.

Coach Bill Athey underlined its importance saying: "If there is one place you want to win it's here. Fantastic, we had to fight all the way."

It completed a great weekend for Worcester after going top of the second division championship table 24 hours earlier.

And there was definitely league title potential in the way they beat Lightning by 12 runs after becoming the first side to score over 200 in a one-day game at Old Trafford this season.

Their 216-7 left Lightning with a formidable task. The diligent Neil Fairbrother and the explosive Andy Flintoff gave them every chance, but eventually it was McGrath's bowling -- and the astute use of it by Graeme Hick -- which earned Royals their fourth success on the trot.

Each time Hick brought the Aussie star back into the attack, he responded by piercing a hole in Lightning's batting. McGrath finished with 3-11 from 8.4 overs and he also had a big hand in the final run out dismissal.

Lancashire have still to win after four matches, but Athey warned: "We have opened up a bit of a gap but you can't rule them out, not with the players they have."

Yet Lightning are a pale shadow of the team which dominated the 1990s. Royals hammered them for 216-7 with Paul Pollard continuing his excellent one-day form with 40 and Vikram Solanki stroking an unbeaten 59.

Although Fairbrother (75) and Flintoff (64) threatened, Royals maintained their composure.

There were some intelligent bowling from David Leatherdale and Richard Illingworth, and there was always McGrath lurking in the background.

He had one long conversation with Warren Hogg which prompted an admonishing finger from the umpire, and boos from the home fans, but he was destined to have the last word.

Kabir Ali, who had already dismissed Mike Atherton but had been mauled by Flintoff, came back with two vital wickets, but at 197-7, Lancashire needed only 20 from four overs. McGrath however ripped through Chris Schofield and Glen Chapple and then helped run out Mike Smethurst.