Northamptonshire’s seamers dominated Worcestershire’s top order, setting up a comprehensive 130-run victory in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup clash at Wantage Road.
Chasing 296, Worcestershire slumped to 34 for 5, with Justin Broad claiming three wickets and Jack White bagging two. Tom Taylor threatened a repeat of his century against Worcestershire last summer, smashing 57 off 49 balls, but his departure ended their hopes. Saif Zaib took three wickets for 44, including two in one over, as the visitors were bowled out with 11 overs to spare.
Earlier, Prithvi Shaw continued his impressive form in the One-Day Cup, hitting a swashbuckling 72 off 59 balls. George Bartlett (60) and Ricardo Vasconcelos (68) shared a partnership of 107, taking Northamptonshire to 215 for 1 in the 40th over. However, both batters fell in quick succession, and the hosts would have been disappointed at not setting a steeper target.
Fateh Singh claimed career-best List A figures of 3 for 51. Shaw got Northamptonshire off to a flying start, taking boundaries off the first two balls of the match. He hit Taylor over long-on for six and clubbed Hishaam Khan down the ground for four.
Ethan Brookes slowed Northamptonshire’s progress, but Khan claimed Shaw’s wicket when the Indian international was caught behind attempting to hook. Bartlett found his fluency, driving Singh through cover and bringing up Northamptonshire’s 150. Vasconcelos struggled initially but changed his approach after the drinks break, sweeping Singh for consecutive boundaries and bringing up his 50.
Bartlett reached his half-century, but Brookes’ pressure forced him to manufacture a shot against Singh and was caught at backward point. Libby turned to his part-time offbreaks, accounting for Vasconcelos first ball. Zaib tried to regain momentum, but Northamptonshire lost three quick wickets after passing 250. Singh bowled James Sales and Zaib, while Lewis McManus holed out at deep midwicket off Taylor. Gus Miller finished the innings with a late blitz, pummelling Taylor down the ground for six.
When Worcestershire batted, Ed Pollock swung White’s second delivery over deep midwicket for six before he was dropped at wide mid-on. White struck next ball, with Gareth Roderick caught low down at first slip by Shaw. Pollock was bowled by White, and the visitors lost a third wicket when Rob Jones steered Ben Sanderson to Vasconcelos at short leg.
Broad struck twice in four balls, trapping Brookes lbw and having Rehaan Edavalath caught at first slip by Shaw. Libby hit a rare loose ball from White for four, and Taylor put his foot down, bringing up his 50 off 38 balls. However, he fell soon after the drinks break, lbw to Zaib.
Singh swept Zaib for six and hit him straight for another maximum before he top-edged to short fine leg off Freddie Heldreich. A double wicket from Zaib accounted for Khan and Hinley, and Harry Darley was caught behind to give Broad his third wicket.
