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CB40 Bears fall short at Northants

Set a target of 239 for victory, Warwickshire were beaten by Northamptonshire by eighteen runs after they had won the toss and fielded at the County Ground, Northampton.

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Warwickshire went down to a second defeat on the road this season, in their bid to retain the CB40 Trophy won last September at Lord’s, when a late innings fight back by the Northamptonshire Steelbacks imposed an eighteen run defeat for the holders.
 
Winning the toss and fielding, Warwickshire picked up an early wicket when Andrew Miller caught and bowled Peters when completing an opening wicket maiden and after some lusty blows, Vaas 31 pulled Darren Maddy to Rikki Clarke at mid-wicket.

Steelbacks' wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien completed an attacking half-century from just 37 balls before being caught and bowled by Maddy from a ball that stopped on him.

Alex Wakely 27 chipped Miller to Bell at mid-wicket before Sales in subdued mood, went to fifty while White 47 pulled Chris Woakes to Keith Barker on the cover boundary breaking a fifth-wicket stand of eighty two. David Sales finished unbeaten on 60 as the hosts posted 238 for 5 from their 40 overs.

Chasing 239, the Bears lost Varun Chopra in the first over when he edged Vaas to O'Brien and Barker followed soon afterwards when his attempted drive over extra cover was mishit to the cover boundary where Wakely took the catch.

Things got worse when Porterfield was run out by James Middlebrook’s throw to O’Brien after the opener reacted slowly to a call for the run from his skipper.

This brought together Ian Bell and Mohammad Yousaf who each completed half-centuries while adding 158 for the fourth wicket before Bell was run out by Peters at point.

After looking to be coasting to a comfortable win, suddenly the Bears were struggling and off the first ball of the batting powerplay, Rikki Clarke departed for eight to Willey and then Maddy’s mistimed drive to Hall off Vaas, after a quick-fire twenty five, put the home side firmly on top.

Wicketkeeper Richard Johnson departed without facing a ball run out, before Willey bowled both Miller and Maurice Holmes to seal victory by 18 runs.

The Bears lost their last seven wickets for just 45 runs and it means Northants maintain their 100 per cent record in this year's competition.