Tom Taylor’s speedy innings fires Northamptonshire to victory
Northamptonshire 243 for 7 (Taylor 42*) beat Sussex 240 for 7 (Pujara 106*, White 3-29) by three wickets (DLS methodology)
Tom Taylor blasted 42 off simply 23 balls to guide Northamptonshire to their first Metro Bank One-Day Cup victory in a gripping encounter in opposition to Sussex Sharks at Wantage Road.
Taylor got here along with Justin Broad with the Steelbacks in actual hassle on 173 for 7, nonetheless needing 70 to win in simply 7.2 overs.
But Taylor, contemporary from a maiden List A century in opposition to Gloucestershire at Cheltenham on Friday, took benefit of a largely inexperienced bowling assault, smashing three sixes and three fours. Together with Broad (22), the pair knocked off the runs required from simply 36 balls with an over to spare.
Needing 14 runs to win off the final two overs, Taylor swung an enormous six off Ari Karvelas earlier than Broad hit one other most to clinch victory.
Earlier Cheteshwar Pujara‘s affected person, elegant undefeated 106 (119 balls) was the spine of Sussex’s innings. Against a disciplined Steelbacks assault in circumstances favouring the bowlers, Pujara was content material to play the lengthy sport, scoring at near a run a ball and maintaining threat to a minimal. He collected simply three boundaries in his first 79 runs, earlier than urgent the accelerator with two sixes within the closing overs to take him into three figures because the Sharks closed on 240 for 7.
Northamptonshire’s Jack White had struck in successive overs to take away each Sharks openers cheaply earlier than Pujara and James Coles rebuilt in a stand of fifty off 50 balls.
Steelbacks skipper Lewis McManus’ bowling adjustments made impacts at key moments to peg again the guests’ momentum, however the decrease order saved Pujara firm, taking the offensive possibility as Sussex’s innings ended with a flourish.
With rain lowering the match to 45 overs a facet, Northamptonshire’s revised goal was 243, however regardless of a stand of 57 between Ricardo Vasconcelos and Sam Whiteman and a spirited 36 from McManus, the Steelbacks seemed down and out earlier than Taylor and Broad got here collectively.
White had accounted for Sussex skipper Tom Haines early, caught at level and Tom Alsop who drove loosely to slide, leaving them 21 for two within the eighth over. Joined by Coles, Pujara largely performed the anchor position, placing away the dangerous balls, favouring the lower shot when the bowlers strayed in line but additionally utilizing his toes to drive into the gaps.
Coles was extra attacking, hitting 4 boundaries earlier than departing in Rob Keogh’s opening over when the spinner acquired one to show again and entice him lbw.
Tom Clark’s transient keep ended when Keogh tossed one up tempting him to return down the observe. Keeper McManus fumbled the ball initially, however nonetheless had time to whip off the bails with the batter properly out of his floor.
Seam brough the final three wickets. White struck nearly instantly in a contemporary spell when Fynn Hudson-Prentice drilled the ball straight to mid-on. Oli Carter went on the offensive, however Procter’s new spell did the trick when the batter tried a wild swing and was trapped lbw.
After the rain break, Jack Carson took on Procter, hooking and clattering him by means of midwicket earlier than he top-edged to backward level because the all-rounder acquired his revenge. Pujara although completed with a flourish, carving one sq. for six and hitting down the bottom for an additional most.
Prithvi Shaw began Northamptonshire’s chase positively, taking consecutive boundaries off every of Karvelas’ opening overs, however after a brisk 26, he chopped a Brad Currie supply onto his stumps. Currie then had Emilio Gay adjudged caught behind off a ball which seemed to have hit the thigh pad.
Whiteman hit consecutive boundaries however was missed at slip early in his innings. He performed the hook to good impact and took the Steelbacks to a few figures with a sweetly-timed sweep off Carson. He did not repeat the shot although and will solely top-edge the subsequent ball.
Vasconcelos performed some creative photographs blended with typical strokeplay. He punched by means of cowl for 4 to get off the mark and drove sweetly because the Steelbacks ended the powerplay on 51 for two. He took on Carson’s offbreaks, pulling by means of midwicket and punching down the bottom however gave the spinner his second scalp when he chipped straight to mid-on. Northamptonshire rapidly misplaced one other wicket when Procter chopped on to Hudson-Prentice to go away them reeling at 115 for five.
Keogh, dropped at slip earlier than scoring, shared a busy stand of 44 with McManus earlier than he performed on to 1 from Coles. McManus fell shortly after when he chipped Henry Crocombe excessive to midwicket. That although introduced Taylor and Broad collectively and a memorable victory.