Chahal has Worcestershire in a spin as Northants win to boost promotion bid
Northants boosted their promotion hopes by romping to a convincing six-wicket win over Worcestershire at New Road, wrapping up a comprehensive victory inside three days.
Yuzvrenda Chahal returned the standout figures of four for 46 as the visitors ran through the Pears for just 182, who’s only defence came through captain Brett D’Oliveira’s valiant 64.
Chasing a mere 94 to win, Northants eased to their target with six wickets in hand, despite three consolation wickets from Usama Mir.
The win keeps Northants well in the hunt for promotion back to Division One, edging in front of nearest rivals Kent with two rounds of action remaining.
Kent will go into the final day of their clash on three without loss in their second innings, needing another 428 to win at Derbyshire.
Brett D’Oliveira and Adam Hose made a defiant start in the sunshine at New Road, taking the hosts within one run of parity in a cagey opening hour, but their resolve was undone by Luke Procter who caught the edge of Hose for 18.
That wicket was the catalyst for the visitors, who took charge of the remainder of the morning session at New Road with two wickets in quick succession keeping the promotion-chasers on top.
The evergreen Ben Sanderson celebrated a 50th division two wicket of the summer when the seamer benefitted from a loose Henry Cullen drive, with a thick edge racing to Calvin Harrison at slip, before Yuzi Chahal trapped Mathew Waite (5) lbw as the Pears wobbled.
Worcestershire’s captain rallied and made a second half century in as many matches from 130 balls, holding out with the hosts reaching lunch 136 for six, ahead by just 47 runs.
In match dominated by seamers, it was Northants’ overseas spinner Chahal who made the telling breakthrough an hour into the afternoon session, ending D’Oliveira’s riposte for 64 courtesy of a smart catch by substitute keeper Stuart van der Merwe.
Procter (2-32) claimed a seventh of the match when he accounted for Ben Allison cheaply, before Chahal re-entered to dismiss Mir as Worcestershire crumbled.
The Indian completed a clinical display with the ball by pinning Adam Finch lbw as the Northants spinner finished with four for 46 and to dismiss the hosts for just 182.
Chasing a mere 94 to win, Northants lost both openers in quick succession after the tea interval, as Procter (21) and Vasconcelos (22) made brisk contributions but fell to Usama Mir and Adam Finch.
Spinner Mir (3-34) snared Saif Zaib and Calvin Harrison, but George Bartlett’s 19 not-out eased the visitors home shortly after 4:30pm.