Lancashire skittle Northants
Northamptonshire Steelbacks lost six wickets for 15 runs in 26 balls as they suffered a 69-run defeat against Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford
Cricinfo staff
09-Jun-2010
Northamptonshire Steelbacks lost six wickets for 15 runs in 26 balls as they suffered a 69-run defeat against Lancashire Lightning at Old Trafford. The visitors had been 42 for 1 in the sixth over as they replied to Lancashire's 157 for 5, but slumped to 57 for 7 in the 10th.
Glen Chapple and Simon Kerrigan claimed two wickets apiece in the spell as the likes of Mal Loye, Andrew Hall and Nicky Boje all fell. Left-arm spinner Kerrigan finished with 3 for 17 from four overs as the visitors were bowled out for just 88 with 13 balls of their innings remaining.
The hosts, boosted by Tom Smith's career-best 67 off 47 balls, have now won both their North Division matches. Lancashire, who elected to bat, reached 50 after eight overs for the loss of Paul Horton before Smith reached his second 50 in Twenty20 matches off 32 balls.
The left-hander, who hit 44 in his side's opening night win at Durham last Friday, later scooped Chaminda Vaas for four but was dismissed next ball as he was stumped off a Vaas wide to leave the score at 101 for 2 in the 15th over. He was soon followed back to the pavilion by Simon Katich (26) when he was bowled through the gate by the Sri Lankan.
Smith and Katich had shared 69 for the second wicket in 10 overs but Stephen Moore and Steven Croft kept the innings motoring as they united for an entertaining fourth-wicket partnership. Croft had a bit of luck as he was bowled off a Hall no-ball on 17 in the 18th and completed the captain's misery when he holed out to deep square leg off the ensuing free hit.
The pair put on 39 in less than four overs before Croft (19) presented Vaas with his third wicket when he found Nicky Boje at deep midwicket. Vaas, the pick of the Northants bowling, ended with figures of 3 for 32 from his four overs, while Moore finished 27 not out off 16 balls.
Northants openers Loye and Lou Vincent, the club's stand-in overseas signing, took the score to 23 after two overs of their reply. Vincent, who spent the latter half of the 2008 season at Old Trafford, has signed for the Steelbacks for 10 days until Zimbabwean Elton Chigumbura arrives.
But he was on his way back for nine when he slapped Sajid Mahmood straight to Katich at point in the third over. Ex-Red Rose favourite Loye nailed two switch hits for four off Kerrigan in the second over and made 22 off 16 balls.
But he was the first of the six wickets to fall in quick succession when he was well caught by Moore at midwicket off Chapple. Hall fell in the same over, Alex Wakely was bowled by Stephen Parry and Boje run out by Mark Chilton.
Kerrigan then had Paul Harrison caught behind and Vaas caught at midwicket in the 10th over before O'Brien (19) reverse swept him to Chilton at short third man to leave the score at 69 for 8 in the 12th. Parry (2 for 12 from four overs) and Croft added further wickets to end the contest.