Northamptonshire County Cricket Club in 2005

Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Grounds

Northampton

Northampton

Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...

Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes , sometimes abbreviated MK, is a large town in Buckinghamshire, in the south east of England, about north-west of London. It is the administrative centre of the Borough of Milton Keynes...

Stowe School

Stowe School is an independent school in Stowe, Buckinghamshire. It was founded on 11 May 1923 by J. F. Roxburgh, initially with 99 male pupils. It is a member of the Rugby Group and Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference. The school is also a member of the G20 Schools Group...

Website

Captain

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

Squad

Overseas players

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

Damien Wright

Damien Geoffrey Wright is an Australian cricketer, who plays for the Victorian Bushrangers and Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Wright made his first-class debut for Tasmania in 1997. In 2002 he played in the Scottish cricket team as their one permitted overseas player—he also had...

Others

Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal is a Pakistani-born cricketer who has played three Test matches for England, all against Australia in 2001. He is a left-handed middle order batsman and occasional left arm slow bowler....

Gerard Brophy

Gerard Louis Brophy is a first-class cricketer, presently contracted to Yorkshire. He has also played for Ireland, Free State, Northamptonshire and Transvaal in a well travelled career....

Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

Paul Coverdale

Paul Coverdale is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium pace bowler. Coverdale was born in Harrogate and played for Northamptonshire until he was released at the end of the 2007 season....

Chris Goode

Chris Kimberly Goode is a former American football defensive back who played with the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts. Goode was drafted by the Colts in the 1987 NFL Draft out of Alabama....

Thomas Huggins

Kevin Innes

Kevin John Innes was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who used to play for Northamptonshire and Sussex. He retired in 2005.-Career:...

Steffan Jones

For the Welsh rugby union player see Steffan Jones Philip Steffan Jones is a Welsh cricketer who plays for Derbyshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler....

Richard King

Richard King (cricketer)

Richard Eric King is a former English cricketer. King was a right-handed batsman who bowled left-arm medium-fast. He was born at Hitchin, Hertfordshire....

Johann Louw

Johann Louw is a South African cricketer.Louw was born in Cape Town, Cape Province. He is a right-arm medium-fast bowler who has represented Griqualand West, Eastern Province, Northamptonshire, Dolphins, Eagles and Middlesex...

Monty Panesar

Mudhsuden Singh Panesar, known as Monty Panesar , is an English cricketer who currently plays for Sussex. A left-arm spinner, Panesar played Test and one-day cricket for England until 2009. In English county cricket he played for Northamptonshire until 2009...

Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

Charl Pietersen

Charl Pietersen in Kimberley is a South African cricketer who plays for the Eagles cricket team. Despite being South African Pietersen played in England under the Kolpak regulations for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club....

Tim Roberts

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

Andrew White

Andrew White (cricketer)

Andrew Roland White is an Irish cricketer, who played in the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, where Ireland reached the Super 8 stage. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm off-break bowler. He has played with Northamptonshire since 2005, and with Ireland since 2002...

Robert White

Robert White (cricketer)

Robert Allan White is an English professional cricketer.White received his upper school education at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire before attending Durham and Loughborough Universities. He currently plays cricket for Northamptonshire. He is a right-handed batsman and can bowl off breaks...

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club in 2005 are playing their cricket in Division Two of the County Championship and Division One of the totesport League. They started the season at 12-1 to win the Division Two title. During the off season 9 players left.

The season started with a thrashing dispensed to the students of Bradford/Leeds UCCE. Then they lost their first Sunday League match, a rain-affected affair against the Worcestershire Royals

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

. The first Championship game was drawn against Leicestershire

Leicestershire County Cricket Club

Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....

after Northants captain David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

left the declaration too late. The second Sunday League match was won at Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

, narrowly by 9 runs. Then they drew with Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Cricket Club

Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...

in the Championship, before thrashing Hampshire

Hampshire County Cricket Club

Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...

on the Sunday.

On 3 May the Steelbacks booked their place in the second round of the C&G Trophy, thrashing Denmark

Danish cricket team

The Denmark national cricket team is the team that represents the country of Denmark in international cricket matches. They have been an associate member of the International Cricket Council since 1966 and are currently part of the ICC's High Performance Program.-Beginnings:Cricket has been played...

in Brondby. They then lost by 10 wickets in the Championship to Yorkshire

Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....

before drawing with Essex

Essex County Cricket Club

Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...

. In the fourth round of the Sunday League, they were thoroughly outplayed by Lancashire

Lancashire County Cricket Club

Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...

.

On 17 May they beat Middlesex

Middlesex County Cricket Club

Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...

in the second round of the C&G Trophy, before looking on top but only getting a draw in a tour match against the Bangladeshis

Bangladeshi cricket team

The Bangladesh national cricket team is a national cricket team representing Bangladesh. The team is administered by the Bangladesh Cricket Board . Bangladesh is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status...

and losing to Somerset

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...

in the Championship despite scoring 408 in the first innings.

They drew their first match in June against Lancashire

Lancashire County Cricket Club

, before enduring a tough last-ball loss to Middlesex in the National League, and then drawing with league leaders Durham

Durham County Cricket Club

Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...

. Their first win in June came at home, beating Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....

by five wickets in the National League, and they stretched that win streak to four, beating Gloucestershire and Warwickshire

Warwickshire County Cricket Club

Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...

, both at home, before travelling to Worcestershire

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

and winning that game too. With three initial victories, things looked promising for Northamptonshire in the Twenty20 Cup, and despite winning only one of their last five games - against Somerset at Taunton - they still finished top of the Midlands/Wales/West Division.

However, that poor patch of form continued into the other competitions. Essex

Essex County Cricket Club

beat them twice, first in the National League and then in the County Championship, and then Northamptonshire had to bow out of both knock-out competitions - losing to Yorkshire in the C&G Trophy before being defeated with two balls to spare by Somerset in the Twenty20 Cup. In the County Championship, Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

spun them to victory against Worcestershire, taking nine wickets. A no-result with Nottinghamshire

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club

Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...

sent them further adrift of Essex and Middlesex in the fight for the National League title.

August started with two wins over Worcestershire - in the National League and the Championship - before going down by 64 runs to Lancashire in the National League. In the Championship, they beat Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Cricket Club

Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...

by 182 runs, despite only having made 140 in the first innings of the match. They recovered from the National League loss against Lancashire, too, beating Middlesex

Middlesex County Cricket Club

by 14 runs on 15 August, but lost to Glamorgan

Glamorgan County Cricket Club

Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...

in the same competition two days later. A two-day match with the touring Australians

Australian cricket team

The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...

followed, Australia opting for batting practice instead of pushing home the victory. In the Championship, a bottom-of-the-table clash with Leicestershire

Leicestershire County Cricket Club

ended in a draw, before they recorded a four-wicket win over Nottinghamshire in the National League and a 285-run Championship win over Lancashire.

They moved up to second place in the already decided National League with a no-result at Glamorgan, before drawing two successive Championship matches, with Somerset

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...

and Durham

Durham County Cricket Club

. Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

and Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

then took ten wickets each in the final Championship game, which Northamptonshire won by an innings and 21 runs, before they rounded off their National League season with a loss to Essex.

Championship

2005 County Championship - Division Two
Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pen	Bat	Bowl	Pts
1	Lancashire Lancashire County Cricket Club Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...	16	7	6	3	0	43	47	212
2	Durham Durham County Cricket Club Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...	16	6	8	2	0	45	44	205
3	Yorkshire Yorkshire County Cricket Club Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....	16	5	10	1	0.5	49	42	200.5
4	Northamptonshire Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...	16	5	8	3	0	45	46	193
5	Essex Essex County Cricket Club Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...	16	5	7	4	0	51	36	185
6	Worcestershire Worcestershire County Cricket Club Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...	16	5	4	7	5.5	53	46	179.5
7	Leicestershire Leicestershire County Cricket Club Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....	16	3	7	6	0.5	45	45	159.5
8	Somerset Somerset County Cricket Club Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...	16	4	5	7	0	42	37	155
9	Derbyshire Derbyshire County Cricket Club Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...	16	1	7	8	0	31	43	116

totesport League

2005 totesport League - Division One
Pos	Team	Pld	W	L	NR	Pts
1	Essex Eagles Essex County Cricket Club Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...	16	13	1	2	56
2	Middlesex Crusaders Middlesex County Cricket Club Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...	16	10	5	1	42
3	Northamptonshire Steelbacks Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...	16	7	7	2	32
4	Glamorgan Dragons Glamorgan County Cricket Club Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...	16	6	6	4	32
5	Nottinghamshire Outlaws Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...	16	6	7	3	30
6	Lancashire Lightning Lancashire County Cricket Club Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...	16	6	9	1	26
7	Gloucestershire Gladiators Gloucestershire County Cricket Club Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....	16	6	9	1	26
8	Worcestershire Royals Worcestershire County Cricket Club Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...	16	5	10	1	22
9	Hampshire Hawks Hampshire County Cricket Club Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...	16	5	10	1	22

Northamptonshire v Bradford/Leeds UCCE (9-10 April)

Northamptonshire beat Bradford/Leeds UCCE by an innings and 62 runs

The first day of this game at Northampton saw Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...

progress to 373 for 7 declared off only 69 overs. Kevin Innes

Kevin Innes

Kevin John Innes was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who used to play for Northamptonshire and Sussex. He retired in 2005.-Career:...

top-scored with 80 off only 59 balls. The declaration left time for 23 more overs on the first day, in which Bradford/Leeds UCCE slumped to 60 for 5. The second day, Bradford/Leeds UCCE fared equally badly, being dismissed for 137. Northamptonshire chose to enforce the follow-on rather than opt for batting practice, and saw off Bradford/Leeds UCCE for 174 to win by an innings and 62 runs in two days. Spinners Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

and Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

both got five wicket

Wicket

In the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...

s each in the match. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Worcestershire (17 April)

Worcestershire (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by 31 runs (D/L method)

At Northampton

Northampton

, Worcestershire Royals

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

captain Vikram Solanki

Vikram Solanki

Vikram Singh Solanki is an Indian-born English cricketer, who plays county cricket for Worcestershire. In 2007, he became the 24th Worcestershire batsman to pass 10,000 career runs for the county. He also captained Worcestershire from 2005 to 2010, before resigning mid-season...

led from the front, scoring 119 off 137 balls, including 13 fours and 1 six. Support from his colleagues took the visitors up to 211 fo 4 off their 45 overs. Worcestershire director of cricket Tom Moody said of Solanki: "I can't see why he won't be in the mix for England section this summer. It depends how the selectors shuffle the deck, but I would imagine he will be in their minds for consideration at the very least. We were very confident he was ready for the challenge of captaincy and he has had a great start."

When Northampstonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

batted, Australian Matt Mason took 3 for 20, to leave Northamptonshire on 137 for 7 off 32.5 overs when rain prevented further play. Worcestershire won easily on the Duckworth-Lewis method

Duckworth-Lewis method

In the sport of cricket, the Duckworth–Lewis method is a mathematical formulation designed to calculate the target score for the team batting second in a one-day cricket or Twenty20 cricket match interrupted by weather or other circumstance...

. /BBC scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Leicestershire (20-23 April)

Northamptonshire (12pts) drew with Leicestershire (9pts)

The first day at Northampton

Northampton

saw only 26.2 overs, during which Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

progressed to 90 for no loss. On the second day Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

(59), Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

(50), David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

(113), Damien Wright

Damien Wright

(95) and Gerard Brophy

Gerard Brophy

Gerard Louis Brophy is a first-class cricketer, presently contracted to Yorkshire. He has also played for Ireland, Free State, Northamptonshire and Transvaal in a well travelled career....

(52) all contributed with the bat, as the hosts moved to 433 for 6 declared

Declaration and forfeiture

In the sport of cricket a declaration occurs when a captain declares his team's innings closed and a forfeiture is when a captain chooses to forfeit an innings. Declaration and forfeiture are covered in Law 14 of the Laws of cricket...

. However, Northamptonshire bowled without luck, allowing Leicestershire

Leicestershire County Cricket Club

to score 69 for 0 at close.

On the third day, Leicestershire progressed to 339 all out, with Darren Robinson

Darren Robinson (cricketer)

Darren David John Robinson is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Essex and Leicestershire....

scoring 100. However, the innings was controversial, with three debatable decisions going against the visitors. First Robinson was given out caught, when the ball probably hit his forearm. Then HD Ackerman was out leg before to a delivery that looked high. Then, at 220 for 5 Aftab Habib

Aftab Habib

Aftab Habib is an English cricketer. He has been appointed the coach of Afghanistan national cricket team on September 2011...

edged Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

low to Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

at first slip

Slip (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, a slip fielder is placed behind the batsman on the off side of the field. They are placed with the aim of catching an edged ball which is beyond the wicket-keeper's reach. Many teams employ two or three slips...

. Habib thought it had not carried, and Love and one umpire were not sure. The other umpire said he was out, so off Habib went. But he returned to confront Shafayat who taunted Habib on the dismissal. Northamptonshire progressed to 45 for 0 at close.

The fourth day saw the game peter out to a draw, as a late declaration, with the score on 238 for 3, left Northamptonshire just less than two session to dismiss Leicestershire, who were set an unrealistic target of 333 to win in 58 overs. Leicestershire were 115 for 4 when the draw was agreed with 11 overs still available. (BBC scorecard)

Gloucestershire v Northamptonshire (24 April)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Gloucestershire (0pts) by 9 runs

Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

batted first at Bristol

Bristol

. Two quick wickets reduced them to 14 for 2. It was a slow pitch that was not conducive to a high score, but they made their way to 202 for 7 off their 45 overs, thanks in part to Damien Wright

Damien Wright

smashing three sixes in four balls in the penultimate over, and thanks to Gloucestershire Gladiators

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

dropping three catches.

In reply Northamptonshire took wickets regularly leaving the hosts on 111 for 5. There was a recovery of sorts after that, led by Alex Gidman

Alex Gidman

Alexander Peter Richard Gidman is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler who currently plays for Gloucestershire....

's 71, but the hosts were always on the back foot from there. Eventually they finished on 193 for 8, a deficit of 9 runs. Four Northamptonshire bowlers got two wickets each, Welshman Steffan Jones

Steffan Jones

For the Welsh rugby union player see Steffan Jones Philip Steffan Jones is a Welsh cricketer who plays for Derbyshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler....

getting them for the fewest runs, as he conceded only 29. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Derbyshire v Northamptonshire (27-30 April)

Northamptonshire (12pts) drew with Derbyshire (6pts)

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

batted first at Derby, and openers Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

and Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

took them to the sword, though Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Cricket Club

Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...

dropped them both. Shafayat finished the first day unbeaten on a career-best 156 from 267 balls; Love was on 129 off 233 balls; Northants were on 292.

Shafayat added only 5 to his overnight score before being lbw

Leg before wicket

In the sport of cricket, leg before wicket is one of the ways in which a batsman can be dismissed. An umpire will rule a batsman out LBW under a series of circumstances which primarily include the ball striking the batsman's body when it would otherwise have continued on to hit the batsman's...

, but Love went on to 168. Northamptonshire finally declared

Declaration and forfeiture

on 451 for 7. In reply, Derbyshire regularly lost wickets, finishing the second day on 135 for 4. On the third day, Johann Louw

Johann Louw

took 6 for 71 to force Derbyshire to follow on 210 in arrears. However, Derbyshire fared much better in their second innings - with both openers undefeated and their score on 119, 91 behind with one day to play. Rain then wiped out the final day's play. (BBC scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Hampshire (1 May)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Hampshire (0pts) by 98 runs

At Northampton

Northampton

, Northamptonshire Steelbacks'

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

struck a career-best 74 from 82 balls as Northants stormed to 266 for 9. Shafayat was dropped on 11 and 56, but congratulated by Hampshire

Hampshire County Cricket Club

captain, Shane Warne

Shane Warne

Shane Keith Warne is a former Australian international cricketer widely regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the history of the game. In 2000, he was selected by a panel of cricket experts as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Century, the only specialist bowler selected in the quintet...

, who was taken for 53 in nine overs

Over (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, an over is a set of six consecutive balls bowled in succession. An over is normally bowled by a single bowler. However, in the event of injury preventing a bowler from completing an over, it is completed by a teammate....

. Hampshire fell to 44 for 4 in reply and, despite 42 from Shaun Udal

Shaun Udal

Shaun David Udal is an English cricketer. An off spin bowler and lower-middle order batsman, he was a member of England's Test team for their tours to Pakistan and India in 2005/06.-International career:...

batting number eight, were never in the game as the Hawks were all out for 168. Northamptonshire seamer Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

took his second List A four-wicket-haul, removing Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Pietersen

Kevin Peter Pietersen, MBE is a South African-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional off spin bowler who plays for England and Surrey...

, John Crawley

John Crawley

John Paul Crawley is a retired English professional cricketer, who represented England in 37 Test matches. He is regarded alongside his near contemporaries Graeme Hick and Mark Ramprakash as a hugely talented player who failed to realise his full potential at international level.Crawley is a...

, Warne and Chris Tremlett

Chris Tremlett

Christopher Timothy "Chris" Tremlett is an English cricketer who plays for Surrey County Cricket Club. He is 6 ft 8 in tall and is a fast bowler able to extract bounce on most surfaces. He is a competent number 8 or 9 batsman, with seven first-class fifties to his name...

on his way to four for 48. (BBC scorecard)

Denmark v Northamptonshire (3 May)

Northamptonshire beat Denmark by 8 wickets to progress to Round Two of the C&G Trophy

Northamptonshire's

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

Charl Pietersen

took 7 for 10 at Brøndby

Brøndby

Brøndby Kommune is a municipality in the former Copenhagen County on the east coast of the island of Zealand in eastern Denmark. The municipality covers an area of 21 km², and has a total population of 33,831...

as Denmark

Danish cricket team

fell to the competition's second lowest score in its history, for 56 all out. 24 of those runs were extras, with no Dane scoring more than 8 with the bat. Pietersen, who was playing in his debut match for the Northants first team said, "The ball was swinging about and they were perfect conditions for bowling. I just concentrated on getting the ball in the right areas and the conditions did the rest. I'm grateful for the opportunity I've been given by Northants. I'm here to learn and try to get myself in the first team on a regular basis. No cricketer wants to play second-team cricket and I'm no different. But one performance won't get me in, I've got to be consistent with my wicket-taking and my economy."

It took Northamptonshire one ball less than 17 overs to make 59 for 2 to win the match just before lunch as the Danes were humbled. Afterwards the Danish coach said, "We knew it was going to be difficult. We are short of money but we are trying to develop every time we play against different opposition. We have a lot of young players and it was good for them to test themselves against the professionals." (BBC scorecard)

Yorkshire v Northamptonshire (6-9 May)

Yorkshire (20pts) beat Northamptonshire (5pts) by 10 wickets

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

were dismissed for 281 on the first day at Headingley

Headingley Stadium

Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....

, with Deon Kruis

Deon Kruis

Gideon Jacobus Kruis , popularly known as Deon Kruis, is a South African first-class cricketer who played in England with Yorkshire County Cricket Club for five seasons from 2004 to 2009...

taking 5 for 59. It was a recovery of sorts, as Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

and Johann Louw

Johann Louw

put on 95 for the eighth wicket, but Anthony McGrath

Anthony McGrath

Anthony McGrath is an English first-class cricketer, who plays county cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club. He is a right-handed batsman and bowls part-time right-arm medium pace and has twice captained Yorkshire, in the 2003 and 2009 seasons.-England:McGrath made his Test match debut for...

ended the visitors' resistance with three wickets. Yorkshire

Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....

were 30 for 0 in reply at the end of the first day. Phil Jaques

Phil Jaques

Philip Anthony Jaques is an Australian cricketer. He is a left-handed opening batsman who has played first-class cricket for New South Wales, Northamptonshire, Yorkshire and Worcestershire, as well as international cricket for Australia...

dominated the second day, with his 176, which helped Yorkshire to an all out total of 328, a small lead of 47. His fellow Australian

Australian cricket team

The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...

Damien Wright

recorded what turned out to be Northamptonshire's best bowling figures

Bowling analysis

In the sport of cricket, a bowling analysis usually refers to a notation summarising a bowler's performance in terms of overs bowled, how many of those overs are maidens , total runs conceded and number of wickets taken...

, ending with eight for 60. Northants were 9 for 0 at stumps on the second day.

On the third day, ten-man Northamptonshire capitulated. They lost their first wicket without a run being added, and never really got going, being 115 for 7 at close on the third day, and being dismissed for 175 and setting a target of 129 on the fourth. It was clear they were not going to win, and Yorkshire gave them no chances, winning by 10 wickets. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Essex (11-14 May)

Northamptonshire (12pts) drew with Essex (6pts)

At Northampton

Northampton

the home side batted first. Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

(153) and Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

(168) scored two huge centuries to help Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

to 552 for 7 declared

Declaration and forfeiture

. When Essex

Essex County Cricket Club

finally got to bat, it was a different story, with the batsmen, particularly the tail, struggling. Johann Louw

Johann Louw

took 6 for 51, as Essex subsided to 178. The follow-on was enforced, and from then on the bat dominated again. Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

Alastair Nathan Cook, MBE is an English international cricket player. He is a left-handed opening batsman who plays county cricket for Essex and International cricket for England, where he is their ODI captain. Cook played for Essex's Academy and made his debut for the first XI in 2003...

made a career-best 195 in 513 minutes, supported by Zimbabwean

Zimbabwean cricket team

The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...

Andy Flower

Andrew "Andy" Flower OBE is a former international cricketer for Zimbabwe and is currently the England coach.-Playing career:...

, who made 142 not out

Not out

In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...

, as Essex eased to the draw at 495 for 6 declared. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Lancashire v Northamptonshire (15 May)

Lancashire (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by seven wickets

Lancashire Lightning

Lancashire County Cricket Club

eased to a comfortable win against Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

to go third in the table, two points behind leaders Middlesex Crusaders. Northamptonshire won the toss and batted, but 215 for 7 was never going to be enough on a fine Old Trafford pitch, where Lancashire's Mal Loye

Mal Loye

Malachy Bernard Loye , most commonly known as Mal Loye, is an English cricketer who has played first class cricket for Northamptonshire, Lancashire, and England A. Loye is a right-handed batsman, particularly well known for his slog sweep shot against fast bowlers...

smashed 94 not out

Not out

with ten fours and three sixes. There were good news for England

English cricket team

The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...

fans as well - Test

Test cricket

Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...

all-rounder

All-rounder

An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...

Andrew Flintoff

Andrew "Freddie" Flintoff MBE is a former English cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club, England and the Indian Premier League team Chennai Super Kings. A tall fast bowler, batsman and slip fielder, Flintoff according to the ICC rankings was consistently rated amongst the top...

bowled 9 overs

Over (cricket)

for Lancashire without complain from his recently operated ankle, taking the wicket

Wicket

of England prospect Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

in the process.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Middlesex v Northamptonshire (17 May)

Northamptonshire beat Middlesex by 19 runs to progress to the Quarter-Finals of the C&G Trophy

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

batted first at Lord's. Their top order performed well, with Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

making 75 off 120 balls, and useful contributions from Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

(46) and David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

(40). However, once they were out, 7 wickets fell for 40 runs, leaving them on 215 for 9, before Robert White

Robert White (cricketer)

smacked 36 to lift the visitors to 238. Middlesex

Middlesex County Cricket Club

got off to a good start, reaching 148 for 2 and 168 for 3, as opener Paul Weekes

Paul Weekes

Paul Nicholas Weekes is an English cricketer. He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm offspin bowler.Born in Hackney, Weekes made his first-class debut for Middlesex in 1990. He is the only English cricketer to have scored more than 150 runs in both innings of a first class game. He has twice...

scored a century

Century (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...

. However, then Damien Wright

Damien Wright

took 4 wicket

Wicket

s for 1 in 7 balls

Delivery (cricket)

A delivery or ball in cricket is a single action of bowling a cricket ball towards the batsman.During play of the game, a member of the fielding team is designated as the bowler, and bowls deliveries towards the batsman...

, as Middlesex collapsed in more spectacular fashion than the visitors, losing their last 6 wickets for 8 runs. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Bangladeshis (20-22 May)

Northamptonshire drew with the Bangladeshis

On the first day at Northampton

Northampton

, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

made 149 for 5 against the touring Bangladeshis

Bangladeshi cricket team

. The tourists' bowlers lured the county batsmen into playing odd strokes to loose balls, but not Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

, who made 76 before mistiming one off left-arm spinner Enamul Haque

Enamul Haque Jr

Enamul Haque , known as Enamul Haque jr to distinguish him from Enamul Haque, who also played for Bangladesh, but was not related to him, is a Bangladeshi cricketer. He currently plays for his home team, Sylhet Division....

. However, it was Anwar Hossain Monir

Anwar Hossain Monir

Mohammad Anwar Hossain is a Bangladeshi cricketer who has played in 3 Tests and one ODI since 2003....

who did the most damage, taking 3 for 67. The second day was wiped out by rain, which resulted in the third day becoming somewhat pointless - Anwar added the wicket of Matthew Friedlander

Matthew Friedlander

Matthew James Friedlander is a former South African cricketer. Friedlander is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium. He was born in Durban, Natal....

to his tally as he finished with four for 113, while the Bangladeshis lost wickets quickly in their reply, crumbling to 105 for 5. However, 16-year-old prodigy Mushfiqur Rahim

Mushfiqur Rahim

Mohammad Mushfiqur Rahim is a Bangladeshi cricketer and captain of the national team. Between August 2009 and December 2010 Rahim served as Bangladesh's vice-captain. He specialises as a wicket-keeper and is a lower-order batsman...

continued his good run of form, scoring 115 not out with fifteen fours and a six to lift the Bangladeshis to 309 for 7 in their glorified nets session.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Somerset (25–27 May)

Somerset (21 pts) beat Northamptonshire (8 pts) by six wickets

Somerset

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...

won the toss at Northampton and chose to bowl – and although they got the hosts Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

out in a day, Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

(166) and wicketkeeper Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

(son of Kepler

Kepler Wessels

Kepler Christoffel Wessels is a former South African cricketer who captained South Africa after playing 24 Tests for Australia. He was the first man to have played One Day International cricket for two countries....

) (102) made quick centuries to lift the hosts to 408. Conversely, however, two Northamptonshire batsmen batting at 4 and 5 perished for ducks

Duck (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...

to Richard Johnson. Somerset replied well, though, with 53 from opener Matthew Wood

Matthew Wood (cricketer)

Matthew James Wood is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler.-Career:...

, but rash strokes gave wickets around everywhere as Somerset made 356 – admittedly only 52 behind. Off-spinner

Off break

Off break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. It is the attacking delivery of an off spin bowler. Off breaks are known as off spinners....

Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

got six wickets for 112, just as many as he had taken before this game, while Ian Blackwell

Ian Blackwell

Ian David Blackwell is an English cricketer. A left-arm orthodox spinner and powerful middle-order batsman, he has played for England in one-day and Test sides, and plays county cricket for Durham, having left Somerset at the end of the 2008 season.-Career:Blackwell was called up for the England...

played a typical 59 off 77 balls.

Northamptonshire lost the wicket of Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

in their eight overs before stumps on day two but could still be reasonably pleased with the first two days' play. However, on the third day, their side collapsed with Gareth Andrew

Gareth Andrew

Gareth Mark Andrew is an English cricketer who plays for Worcestershire. He is a fast medium bowler and left-handed batsman. He toured Australia with the England Under-17 team in 1997, made his debut for the Somerset 2nd XI in 1999 and played for the Somerset Cricket Board in the Nat West Bank...

taking three for 31 as they crashed to 100 all out – Ian Blackwell

Ian Blackwell

removing two in his only over, which was also a maiden. In chasing 155, Somerset had some problems in tackling the bowling of Johann Louw

Johann Louw

, who took two wickets, but still managed a relatively comfortable six-wicket win.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Hampshire v Northamptonshire (30 May)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Hampshire (0pts) by four wickets

Hampshire Hawks batted first at The Rose Bowl, and despite an unbeaten 100 from Greg Lamb

Greg Lamb

Gregory Arthur Lamb is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman who can bowl both off spin and right arm medium pace....

- the first of his List A career - Hampshire were tied down to 226 for 7 off their 45 overs, mainly thanks to three for 30 from Australian

Australian cricket team

The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...

Damien Wright

. Six wides from Chris Tremlett

Chris Tremlett

, who conceded 51 runs off his eight overs then cost Hampshire the game after Shaun Udal

Shaun Udal

had taken three wickets to set Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

back to 135 for 5. David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

added 49 with Wright before Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

guided Northamptonshire to four points with 26 off 12 balls and secured a win with ten balls to spare.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Lancashire v Northamptonshire (1-4 June)

Lancashire (7pts) drew with Northamptonshire (7pts)

There was no play on the first day at Old Trafford

Old Trafford (cricket)

Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...

because of rain. The weather on the second day allowed only 54 overs, and in that time Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

made 148 for 5. They were all out for 175 on the third day, after James Anderson

James Anderson (cricketer)

James Michael "Jimmy" Anderson is an English cricketer. He plays first-class cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club and since bursting onto the scene in 2002/03, before his first full season of county cricket, Anderson has represented England in over 50 Test matches and over 100 One Day...

took 3 and Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan

Muttiah Muralitharan , often referred to as Murali, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002...

4 wickets. Lancashire

Lancashire County Cricket Club

fared worse in reply, slumping to 27 for 5 and 35 for 6, before recovering slightly to 149 all out thanks to 48 from veteran wicket-keeper

Wicket-keeper

The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...

Warren Hegg

Warren Kevin Hegg is an English cricketer. He played County Cricket for Lancashire. Although primarily a wicket-keeper, Hegg was also a handy lower-order batsman, and made several first-class hundreds...

. Northants lost 2 quick wickets in their second innings, before ending the third day on 94 for 3. This left a small chance of victory on the final day, but it wasn't to happen. Muralitharan took 4 quick wickets, but the visitors still made 225, a target of 252 runs. Lancashire were saved by captain Mark Chilton

Mark Chilton

Mark James Chilton is an English cricketer. Chilton was educated at Manchester Grammar School and Durham University where he won the British Universities tournament in 1997. The same year he made his debut for Lancashire, aged 20...

who kept his wicket as all about were losing theirs. The opener finished on 113 not out, as Lancashire saved the match ending on 188 for 8. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Middlesex (12 June)

Middlesex (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by 2 wickets

In a close match at The County Ground, Northampton, Middlesex

Middlesex County Cricket Club

stole a victory thanks to intelligent running from Melvyn Betts

Melvyn Betts

Melvyn Morris Betts is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler.Born in Sacriston, County Durham, Betts participated in Under-19s cricket and Under-20s cricket with Durham, but left in September 2000 upon the refusal of an improvement in his contract...

and big scores from Jamie Dalrymple

Jamie Dalrymple

James William Murray "Jamie" Dalrymple is a Kenyan-born English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and off-spin bowler....

, who made a run-a-ball 76, and Irishman Ed Joyce

Ed Joyce

Edmund Christopher Joyce is an Irish cricketer who has played for both the Irish and English national cricket teams. After beginning his career with Middlesex, he moved to Sussex in 2009. A left-handed batsman and occasional right-arm bowler of medium pace, Joyce is widely regarded as one of the...

who made 74 off 78 balls. Earlier, Australian overseas player Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

(111 not out

Not out

) and Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

(122 not out) had occupied the crease for Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

, sharing a 227-run partnership as the hosts made 283 for 1. In the end, however, Betts scampered the winning three on the last delivery, and stole victory from the jaws of defeat.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Durham (15-18 June)

Durham (10pts) drew with Northamptonshire (8pts)

Neither team really attempted to win this game at The County Ground, Northampton, which wasn't as badly hit by rain as many other games in that week. Batting first, Durham

Durham County Cricket Club

made 334 from a tricky position at 73 for 4, Northamptonshire bowler Damien Wright

Damien Wright

trailing off after three early wickets, and a seventh-wicket partnership between Ashley Noffke

Ashley Noffke

Ashley Allan Noffke is an Australian cricketer who currently plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League . He previously played cricket for Queensland and Western Australia...

and Phil Mustard for 135 lifted Durham out of a tricky position. Dale Benkenstein

Dale Benkenstein

-External links:****...

got four cheap wickets for 29 in the Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

effort, while David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

top-scored with 50 not out, but Durham looked on top. However, going at only three an over, Durham didn't ram home the advantage, captain Benkenstein choosing to boost his own average with 83 not out. Thus, Northamptonshire were set 414 in 70 overs - a ridiculous task - and despite two wickets from Gareth Breese

Gareth Breese

Gareth Rohan Breese is a West Indian cricketer who played one Test match in 2002, as the main spin bowler at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium against India. Breese scored five runs in two innings, and took two wickets, but conceded 135 runs in 31 overs and was the most expensive bowler...

, both teams were content with the draw.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire (19 June)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Gloucestershire (0pts) by five wickets

Gloucestershire Gladiators

Gloucestershire County Cricket Club

and the Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

were both forced to win this relegation clash, the last one-day game these sides would play before the Twenty20 Cup began. Winning the toss and batting, Gloucestershire crumbled from 53 for 0 to 55 for 4 in a collapse very reminiscent of what happened at their home ground on that same day in the England vs Australia game, but 63 from Mark Hardinges

Mark Hardinges

Mark Andrew Hardinges is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler....

rescued them to a competitive total of 215 for 9. Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

and Tim Roberts looked to secure the victory, pairing up for 166 for the first wicket, but two wickets from Martyn Ball

Martyn Ball

Martyn Charles John Ball is an English former cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. He spent his 19 year career at Gloucestershire....

and two run-outs saw a collapse to 207 for 5. Shafayat, however, kept his cool, seeing the hosts to the target with ten balls to spare.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Gloucestershire (22 June)

Northamptonshire (2pts) beat Gloucestershire (0pts) by 81 runs

The Gloucestershire Gladiators took a massive beating by the Northamptonshire Steelbacks in their match at Milton Keynes

Milton Keynes

. Despite Gloucestershire's Martyn Ball

Martyn Ball

Martyn Charles John Ball is an English former cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler. He spent his 19 year career at Gloucestershire....

taking two for 18 from four overs, positively economical, five no-balls and the fact that 16 overs had to be found from bowlers other than Ball allowed Northamptonshire to run away to 224 for 5 - a Twenty20 Cup record http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/4114470.stm. David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

top-scored for the hosts with 78 not out

Not out

, while Australian Damien Wright

Damien Wright

paired up with him for 84 for the sixth wicket, scoring an unbeaten 38 of his own. Gloucestershire were in trouble from the start, as opening batsman Craig Spearman

Craig Spearman

Craig Murray Spearman played 19 Tests and 51 One Day Internationals for New Zealand from 1995 - 2001.A right-handed opening batsman, Spearman made his international debut for New Zealand in a Test Match in December 1995 against Pakistan at Christchurch...

was run out for a duck, and when Wright ripped out two more wickets, the Gladiators were 10 for three. Four wickets from Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

resulted in a serious collapse, as Gloucestershire were all out for 143.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Warwickshire (24 June)

Northamptonshire (2pts) beat Warwickshire (0pts) by 38 runs

Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

took their second victory from two Twenty20 Cup matches thus far, as they accumulated 143 for 5 in 14 overs, despite no batsman hitting more than 40 in a rain-shortened match at Northampton

Northampton

. Scotsman Dougie Brown

Dougie Brown

Douglas Robert Brown is a former Scottish cricketer, currently employed as a coach for Warwickshire C.C.C.. He is an all-rounder who has represented both England and Scotland at One Day International level...

took one for nine off three overs for Warwickshire Bears

Warwickshire County Cricket Club

, but the target was too large for the visitors, as Northamptonshire bowler Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

removed four Warwickshire lower-order batsmen - his second four-wicket-haul in three days - as the Bears crumbled to 105 for 9.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Worcestershire v Northamptonshire (27 June)

Northamptonshire (2pts) beat Worcestershire (0pts) by 37 runs

David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

(59 runs) and Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

(46) lifted Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

to a very competitive total of 180 for 6 at New Road

New Road, Worcester

New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...

, where Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar is a former Pakistani right arm fast bowler in cricket, who is regarded as the fastest bowler in the history of cricket. He set an official world record by achieving the fastest delivery, when he clocked in at 161.3 km/h in his bowling speed, twice at a cricket match against...

bowled a maiden over but was smashed for thirty-three runs in the other three overs he bowled. The hosts' innings saw Worcestershire Royals

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

lose Graeme Hick

Graeme Hick

Graeme Ashley Hick MBE is a Zimbabwean-born cricketer who played 65 Test matches and 120 One Day Internationals for England. He played county cricket for Worcestershire for his entire English domestic career, a period of well over twenty years, and in 2008 he surpassed Graham Gooch's record for...

early on, and despite 53 from Stephen Moore

Stephen Moore (cricketer)

Stephen Colin Moore is an English cricketer. Moore is a right-handed opening batsman who plays first-class cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club. He previously played for Worcestershire from 2003 until 2009...

, Northamptonshire's bowlers had a good grip on the Worcestershire players - Johann Louw

Johann Louw

got the best figures for the Steelbacks with three for 25 - and Worcestershire finished on 143 for 8.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Somerset (29 June)

Somerset (2pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by five wickets

At Northampton, Andy Caddick served up an unusually economical spell, taking two for 12 in three overs despite two wides. That helped tie the hosts Northamptonshire Steelbacks down to 95 for 6 in 12 overs in the rain-shortened game, and with Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith

Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...

and Keith Parsons

Keith Parsons

Keith Alan Parsons is an English cricketer who played first-class for Somerset between 1992 and 2008. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler....

at the crease and the score 55 for 1, things looked bright for Somerset Sabres. Two wickets from Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

helped put the odds for a Northamptonshire win down, but Somerset prevailed, Parsons hitting the winning runs on the last ball as Somerset finished on 97 for 5.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Glamorgan v Northamptonshire (1 July)

Match abandoned without a ball bowled; Glamorgan (1pt), Northamptonshire (1pt)

The weather at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff

Cardiff

Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...

prevented a match from getting underway between Glamorgan Dragons and Northamptonshire Steelbacks.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Somerset v Northamptonshire (2 July)

Northamptonshire (2pts) beat Somerset (0pts) by five wickets

Despite Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith

Graeme Craig Smith is a South African cricketer and captain of the South African cricket team Test Match side, having succeeded Shaun Pollock after the 2003 Cricket World Cup...

making a 53-ball century, and pairing up with Matthew Wood

Matthew Wood (cricketer)

Matthew James Wood is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler.-Career:...

for 129 for the first wicket, Somerset Sabres still lost the match at Taunton

Taunton

Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....

. Smith's 105 helped Somerset set a target of 190, but none of the bowlers conceded less than seven an over to Northamptonshire Steelbacks' batting. Simon Francis

Simon Francis (cricketer)

Simon Francis is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. Since 2002, he has played first-class cricket for Somerset, having transferred from Hampshire....

was the worst, ending with 57 conceded runs in four overs, while Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

hit 49 not out with four sixes off 22 balls, and the Sabres had to see that Northamptonshire won with an over to spare.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Worcestershire (5 July)

Match abandoned; Northamptonshire (1pt), Worcestershire (1pt)

No play was possible at The County Ground, Northampton due to rain, and the hosts Northamptonshire Steelbacks qualified for the quarter-finals thanks to the no-result.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Warwickshire v Northamptonshire (6 July)

Warwickshire (2pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by 41 runs

Warwickshire Bears were lifted to a total of 205 for 2 by hitting eight sixes at Edgbaston

Edgbaston Cricket Ground

Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...

, Ian Bell carrying his side with 66 not out off just 38 balls. Nick Knight

Nick Knight

Nicholas Verity Knight is a former England cricketer. Knight's middle name was in honour of the 1930s English Test bowler Hedley Verity who was killed in World War II and is a distant family relation...

also made 61 as Northamptonshire Steelbacks failed to make any impact with the ball. The Northamptonshire reply was stifled by some reasonably economical bowling, with no regular bowler conceding more than eight an over, and good fielding which yielded one run out and stopped the boundaries. Warwickshire seamer Jamie Anyon took three for 34, for his second successive match with a three-wicket haul, while Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

became top scorer with a run-a-ball 43. Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

hit 41 not out

Not out

from number four to complement his bowling figures of two for 43. In the end, Northamptonshire made 164 for 6, but still went through - along with Warwickshire, who finished second in their group thanks to their win over Somerset two days earlier.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Essex v Northamptonshire (8 July)

Essex (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by five wickets

Essex Eagles recorded their seventh win in eight attempts in the National League, cementing their place at the top. After Northamptonshire Steelbacks won the toss and batted at Chelmsford, three run-outs and Grant Flower

Grant Flower

Grant William Flower is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He is rated among the best Zimbabwean cricketers in history for his handy left arm spin and fine batting skills. He was a fitness fanatic who spends hours in the gym, and was also regarded as a brilliant fielder who was usually seen in the gully...

's bowling, which yielded three for 21, saw them go from 185 for 5 to 200 all out. Essex's reply was secured by a healthy 90 not out from Flower after Essex had struggled initially, being 95 for 4. 29 not out from Dutch-South African Ryan ten Doeschate

Ryan ten Doeschate

Ryan Neil ten Doeschate is a South African-born cricketer who plays internationally for the Netherlands due to his Dutch ancestry. He has played cricket for Essex since 2003....

sent them past the target with ten balls to spare.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Essex v Northamptonshire (10-13 July)

Essex (22pts) beat Northamptonshire (3pts) by ten wickets

Essex

Essex County Cricket Club

won a spin

Spin bowling

Spin bowling is a technique used for bowling in the sport of cricket. Practitioners are known as spinners or spin bowlers.-Purpose:The main aim of spin bowling is to bowl the cricket ball with rapid rotation so that when it bounces on the pitch it will deviate, thus making it difficult for the...

-dominated match at Chelmsford

Chelmsford

Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...

. Batting first, Essex made 506 against Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

- whose normally astute spin attack was batted out of the game. Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

took a career best seven-wicket-haul in the innings, but conceded 181 runs in the process, bowling a mammoth 56.3 overs. The Northamptonshire reply was stifled by four wickets from James Middlebrook

James Middlebrook

James Middlebrook is an English first-class cricketer, currently playing for Northamptonshire County Cricket Club. He is an all-rounder, who bats right-handed and bowls off spin.-Career:...

, as they crumbled to 141 for 6, but Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

and Damien Wright

Damien Wright

added 95 for the seventh wicket before Tony Palladino

Tony Palladino

Antonio Paul Palladino, or more commonly known as Tony Palladino, is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler...

grabbed three wickets in four balls, and they finished on 247. Following on, Northamptonshire had made 203 for 2 when Essex' captain Ronnie Irani

Ronnie Irani

Ronald Charles "Ronnie" Irani is a former England cricketer who spent most of his career at Essex County Cricket Club, latterly as captain. He is of Irani descent, the Iranis being a community of Persian Zoroastrians who immigrated to India during the British Raj...

brought Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

on as seventh-bowler. The off-spinner, normally an opening batsmen, claimed his three first first-class wickets as three wickets fell for five runs, and Danish Kaneria

Danish Kaneria

Danish Prabha Shanker Kaneria is a Pakistani cricketer . Danish Kaneria has continued the tradition of great Pakistani leg spin bowlers and possesses a very well disguised googly...

wrapped up the rest of Northamptonshire's batsmen as they bowed out for 261. Chasing a target of 3, William Jefferson hit a four with the second ball of Essex' innings, thus ending the game.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Yorkshire v Northamptonshire (16 July)

Yorkshire beat Northamptonshire by 33 runs to progress to the Semi-Final of the C&G Trophy

Michael Lumb

Michael John Lumb

Michael John Lumb is a South African-born English cricketer who currently plays for Nottinghamshire and England in Twenty20 International cricket...

with 89 and Ian Harvey

Ian Harvey

Ian Joseph Harvey is an Australian cricketer. He is an all-rounder. He was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for 2004.-Australian career:...

with 74 lifted Yorkshire

Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....

to 270 all out at Headingley

Headingley Stadium

in the fourth quarter-final of the C&G Trophy. It was a bit of an implosion from 227 for 3, but runs came thick and fast in that period, so Yorkshire wouldn't be too disappointed with losing their wickets. Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

started well, getting to 163 for 2 after all their top four got starts, but two wickets from England

English cricket team

Test

Test cricket

bowler Matthew Hoggard

Matthew Hoggard

Matthew James Hoggard MBE is an English cricketer. The 6' 2" Hoggard is a right arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman. He played international cricket for England cricket team from 2000-2008, playing both Test cricket and One Day International cricket. He is currently the captain of...

started to turn the match. From then on, the Northamptonshire effort just stopped dead, as they lost five wickets for 24 runs to fall to 216 for 9. Steffan Jones

Steffan Jones

For the Welsh rugby union player see Steffan Jones Philip Steffan Jones is a Welsh cricketer who plays for Derbyshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler....

and Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

paired up for 21 for the last wicket, but it was too little, too late.
http://www.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/ENG_LOCAL/C+G/SCORECARDS/KNOCK-OUTS/YORKS_NORTHANTS_C+G_16JUL2005.html

Northamptonshire v Somerset (18 July)

Somerset beat Northamptonshire by four wickets to progress to the Semi-Finals of the Twenty20 Cup

Northamptonshire Steelbacks failed to take full use of their home advantage, and Somerset Sabres escaped with a four-wicket win to reach their first semi-final of the Twenty20 Cup. Northamptonshire's batsmen made quick scores between 20 and 30, but Ian Blackwell

Ian Blackwell

's spell mid-match of three for 16 pegged Northamptonshire back to 118 for 6. Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

then made an unbeaten 27 to lift his team to 154 for 8, however, but he couldn't take a wicket while bowling. Despite three run-outs, Somerset made it through on the penultimate ball, as Matthew Wood

Matthew Wood (cricketer)

Matthew James Wood is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler.-Career:...

recorded 58 and Blackwell a 16-ball 31 to lay the foundation before Keith Parsons

Keith Parsons

Keith Alan Parsons is an English cricketer who played first-class for Somerset between 1992 and 2008. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler....

set the pace late on with an unbeaten 38.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Worcestershire (20-23 July)

Northamptonshire (19pts) beat Worcestershire (6.5pts) by 82 runs

Worcestershire's

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

had a field day despite serving up no balls on the first day at Northampton, but that was only the first day, and Northamptonshire came back to win the game. The match had started well enough for the hosts Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

, but a menacing spell from the Pakistani fast bowler reduced them from 150 for 2 to 173 for 8 - Matt Mason helping out with two wickets as well. Shoaib finished with six for 47, including twenty runs conceded due to no-balls - while Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

and Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

rescued the hosts to 299 with a last-wicket stand of 62. Young wicket-keeper Steve Davies then made a career-best 95 in his sixth first-class game, which helped lift Worcestershire

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

to 381, a lead of 82.

Northamptonshire lost six wickets to spinners in their second innings, Ray Price

Ray Price (cricketer)

Raymond William Price is a Zimbabwean cricketer. He bowls left-arm orthodox spin. He is the nephew of the renowned Zimbabwean golfer Nick Price....

and Gareth Batty

Gareth Batty

Gareth Jon Batty is an English cricketer, more specifically a spin-bowler. He is the younger brother of the former Yorkshire and Somerset off-spinner, Jeremy Batty.-Life and career:...

taking three each while Shoaib was expensive, conceding 67 in thirteen overs, as Northamptonshire were bowled out for 364 - Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

making 84 and Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

102. Chasing 283 to win, Worcestershire got off to a good start with an opening partnership of 54, but Northamptonshire's spinner Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

took three for 47 to leave them 139 for 5 overnight, Ben Smith unbeaten on 50. Smith only added seven to that score, while Panesar took three more wickets, bowling 26.5 overs in one straight spell which yielded six for 77. Johann Louw

Johann Louw

and Brown also got one wicket each, as Worcestershire succumbed for 200 to suffer their third successive Championship loss, which sent them out of the promotion zone. Worcestershire were also deducted half a point for a slow over rate.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Nottinghamshire v Northamptonshire (24 July)

No result; Nottinghamshire (2pts), Northamptonshire (2pts)

Only 26 deliveries were bowled at Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge

Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...

by Greg Smith and Mark Ealham

Mark Ealham

Mark Alan Ealham is a retired English cricketer, who played domestic cricket for Kent C.C.C. and Nottinghamshire C.C.C.. He is an all-rounder and is a former England international at both Test and one-day cricket....

of the Nottinghamshire Outlaws, who conceded 20 runs to Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

as Northamptonshire Steelbacks moved to 25 for 0 before rain stopped the game for good.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Worcestershire v Northamptonshire (2 August)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Worcestershire (0pts) by 38 runs

Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

scored 117 off just 103 balls as Northamptonshire Steelbacks ploughed their way to 275 for 4, Afzaal pairing up with Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

for the second wicket for a partnership that was worth 155 runs. The Royals' innings struggled from the outset, when Stephen Moore

Stephen Moore (cricketer)

was dismissed for a duck, and despite 52 from Graeme Hick

Graeme Hick

, Worcestershire imploded to 185 for 9 at one point, with Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

taking four for 33 with medium-pace bowling. In the final overs, Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

had some hitting fun at the end, scoring 36 off 17 balls in vain as Worcestershire ended on 237 for 9.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Worcestershire v Northamptonshire (4-7 August)

Northamptonshire (17pts) beat Worcestershire (3pts) by 137 runs

Worcestershire

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

gave away the initiative in the second innings, losing by 137 runs thanks to a frantic second-innings 190 from David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

. It was the visitors, Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

, who chose to bat first at New Road

New Road, Worcester

, and after seeing off Shoaib Akhtar

Shoaib Akhtar

and Kabir Ali

Kabir Ali

Kabir Ali is an English cricketer who currently plays for Hampshire in the English County Championship. A right-arm seam bowler and useful lower-order right-handed batsman, outside cricket he works as a model...

in a frantic opening spell where Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

went for 1, Northamptonshire looked fairly confident at 177 for 4. Then Shoaib returned, taking four wickets (to end with bowling figures

Bowling analysis

of 9.2-1-55-5), and the wheels fell off as Northamptonshire lost their last six wickets for 12 runs. Stephen Moore

Stephen Moore (cricketer)

continued his fine form, making 62, as Worcestershire looked to gain a slender lead - Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

taking a couple of wickets to give Northamptonshire some hope of tying the hosts down. Then, Damien Wright

Damien Wright

ripped through with some quick wickets, as Worcestershire went from 110 for 3 to 147 for 8 - only for Shoaib

Shoaib Akhtar

and Matthew Mason to give Worcestershire the lead thanks to a boundary-filled 47-run partnership.

Ali

Kabir Ali

and Mason then chipped away at the Northamptonshire batsmen, and would have fancied their chances when the visitors were 64 for 5. However, a quickfire partnership between Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

and Wright

Damien Wright

turned the match on its head again, as the pair added 188 runs in 112 minutes - one run less than Northamptonshire had managed in the entire first innings - to send Northamptonshire into a relatively big lead on this pitch. Sales was 152 not out overnight, and powered on to 190 before Malik

Nadeem Malik

Nadeem Malik , known by his last two names, is an English cricketer, a right-arm fast-medium seam bowler and right-handed lower-order batsman....

had him caught. However, the damage was done, and Worcestershire faced a steep target of 360 to win - or five sessions for a draw. Losing Moore

Stephen Moore (cricketer)

and Graeme Hick

Graeme Hick

early on, Ben Smith attacked for a fine 92, and a 45-minute flurry of runs from Zander de Bruyn

Zander de Bruyn

Zander de Bruyn is a South African cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler. He has played three Test matches for South Africa, and currently plays domestic cricket for the Highveld Lions and Surrey County Cricket Club...

gave Worcestershire some hope at 154 for 3. However, Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

got four for 40, Phillips dug out three for 56, Worcestershire lost the last seven wickets for 68 runs, and whimpered into a heap. Worcestershire were later deducted one point due to a slow over rate.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Lancashire (8 August)

Lancashire (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by 64 runs

Despite four for 39 from Johann Louw

Johann Louw

, Lancashire Lightning

Lancashire County Cricket Club

recovered well from an early position of 52 for 3 against Northamptonshire Steelbacks

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

. 80 from Andrew Symonds

Andrew Symonds

Andrew Symonds is a former Australian cricket team all-rounder. A two-time World Cup winner, Symonds is a right-handed middle order batsman and alternates between medium pace and off-spin bowling....

, a quick 44 from Dominic Cork

Dominic Cork

Dominic Gerald Cork is a former English cricketer. Cork is a right-handed lower-order batsman who bowls right-arm fast-medium, and is renowned for his swing and seam control. Making his début in first-class cricket for Derbyshire in 1990, he was selected to play for England in 1992, aged 21. He...

and a captain's innings of 36 from Mark Chilton

Mark Chilton

, took the score to 236 for 9. James Anderson

James Anderson (cricketer)

, the former England

English cricket team

ODI player, took three quick wickets to leave Northamptonshire struggling at 35 for 4, and from then on, it only went downwards for the Steelbacks. Andrew Crook

Andrew Crook

Andrew Richard Crook is an Australian cricketer who has played first-class cricket for South Australia, Lancashire and Northamptonshire. He is an all-rounder, bowling off spin. He is the brother of English county player Steven Crook.-References:...

wrapped up the innings with three cheap lower order

Batting order (cricket)

In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...

wickets, and Northamptonshire crumbled to 172 all out.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Derbyshire (10-13 August)

Northamptonshire (17pts) beat Derbyshire (4pts) by 182 runs

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

won the match at The County Ground, Northampton despite only posting 140 all out in the first innings. Derbyshire

Derbyshire County Cricket Club

Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...

's medium-pacer Ian Hunter

Ian Hunter (cricketer)

Ian David Hunter is an English cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler....

took four for 50 to get the best figures for Derbyshire, dismissing three Northamptonshire batsmen were dismissed in single figures. Graeme Welch

Graeme Welch

Graeme Welch in Durham is an English cricket player. Welch has played for two county teams, Derbyshire and Warwickshire.Graeme Welch was appointed captain of Derbyshire for the 2006 season following the departure of Luke Sutton to Lancashire...

chipped in with economical bowling, conceding only 21 runs in ten overs and claiming three scalps. Steve Stubbings

Steve Stubbings

Stephen David Stubbings is an English cricket player who plays for Bedfordshire.He only played a handful of senior games before trying out at the Frankston Peninsula Cricket Club in the Victorian Cricket Association's Premier Competition...

and Michael di Venuto

Michael Di Venuto

Michael James Di Venuto is a former Australian cricketer of Italian descent who played first-class cricket for Tasmanian Tigers and One Day Internationals for Australia. Although he has retired from representative cricket in Australia, he currently continues to play for Durham CCC. He has also...

then made batting look easy with an opening partnership

Partnership (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in partnership, although only one is on strike at any time. The partnership between two batsmen will come to an end when one of them is dismissed or retires, or the innings comes to a close In the sport of cricket, two batsmen always bat in...

of 81, but two wickets from Johann Louw

Johann Louw

evened out the game somewhat, and Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

wrapped up Derbyshire's innings with three wickets on the second day, as Derbyshire were all out for 219.

After Welch's bowling had yielded two early catches to see Northamptonshire to 43 for 2, Australian Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

took centre stage. He slashed 34 fours to end the second day unbeaten on 159, an innings higher than the entire Northamptonshire first innings total, and the hosts closed the second day's play on 311 for 3, Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

having added 59 from number four as well. Love added only 18 before he was lbw to Mohamed Sheikh, but half-centuries from David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

and Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

, ensured that Northamptonshire could declare with a lead of 388, giving themselves five sessions to win the game. The weather forecast for the final day, however, had predicted rain, so Northamptonshire wanted to get in early. Spinners

Spin bowling

Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

and Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

shared nine wickets, as Derbyshire battled out the third day to 204 for 9, but Australian Damien Wright

Damien Wright

wrapped up the innings by having Hunter bowled

Bowled

Bowled is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 30 of the Laws of cricket.A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler...

two balls into the fourth morning.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Middlesex v Northamptonshire (15 August)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Middlesex (0pts) by 14 runs

Middlesex Crusaders waved a definite good-bye to their hopes of a National League title, losing their second game in a row and failing to take advantage of Essex Eagles' loss the preceding day. Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

and Robert White

Robert White (cricketer)

slashed fifties for an opening partnership of 117, and after two wickets from Chris Peploe

Chris Peploe

Christopher Thomas Peploe is an English cricketer. A left-handed batsman and a slow left-arm bowler, he currently plays List A cricket for the Unicorns in the Clydesdale Bank 40....

, Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

entered. Taking a fancy to young medium-pacer Chris Wright

Chris Wright (cricketer)

Christopher Wright is an English cricketer.Chris Wright made his first-class debut for Middlesex in 2004, as a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler...

, the 21-year-old slashed five sixes and seven fours to make 85 not out

Not out

- only his fourth fifty in List A cricket. Middlesex' reply was led by Paul Weekes

Paul Weekes

and Ed Smith

Ed Smith (cricketer)

Edward Thomas Smith is an English author and journalist, and former professional cricketer.-Background:He is the son of the novelist Jonathan Smith...

- the pair started brightly, making 105 for the first wicket, but following Smith's departure only one batsman passed 20, and Middlesex failed to keep up with the required run rate to finish on 247 for 9, despite 111 from Weekes.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Glamorgan (17 August)

Glamorgan (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by five wickets

Glamorgan Dragons' bowler David Harrison

David Harrison (cricketer)

David Stuart Harrison is a Welsh-born cricketer who has played for the England A team. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler.David Harrison's father, Stuart and brother Adam also play cricket...

bowled a fierce spell which only conceded 17 runs in nine overs - including five runs to extras

Extra (cricket)

In the sport of cricket, an extra is a run scored by a means other than a batsman hitting the ball.Other than runs scored off the bat from a no ball, a batsman is not given credit for extras and the extras are tallied separately on the scorecard and count only towards the team's score...

- as Glamorgan limited the hosts Northamptonshire Steelbacks to 201 all out at Sophia Gardens. Northamptonshire's Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

hit 80 off 72 balls to take the score past 200 before lofting the ball to David Cherry to be last out. However, his 54-run partnership

Partnership (cricket)

with Johann Louw

Johann Louw

gave Northamptonshire some hope of posing a challenge. Wickets fell with reasonable regularity, but captain Robert Croft

Robert Croft

Robert Damien Bale Croft is a Welsh cricketer who has played international cricket for both England and Wales. He is an off-spin bowler who plays for Glamorgan and captained the county from 2003 to 2006...

refused to be dismissed, and his 81 not out

Not out

anchored the chase. Richard Grant

Richard Grant (cricketer)

Richard Neil Grant is a former Welsh cricketer. Grant is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium pace. He was born at Neath, Glamorgan and was educated at Cefn Saeson Comprehensive and Neath Port Talbot College....

scored 22 not out as well, as Glamorgan made it to the target with 20 deliveries

Delivery (cricket)

to spare, despite two wickets from Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Australia (20-21 August)

Match drawn

Australia

Australian cricket team

The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...

scored more than four times as many runs for each wicket as their hosts Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

at Northampton, yet the two-day time limit and Australia's hunger for batting practice ensured a draw. Northamptonshire won the toss, and put their guests in to bat, and Steffan Jones

Steffan Jones

For the Welsh rugby union player see Steffan Jones Philip Steffan Jones is a Welsh cricketer who plays for Derbyshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler....

got two early breakthroughs as Australia were set back to 69 for 3 - Damien Martyn

Damien Martyn

Damien Richard Martyn is a former Australian cricketer. He played for the national team sporadically in 1992–1994 before becoming a regular ODI player in 1999–2000 and a regular Test player in 2001 until his retirement in late 2006...

having spent only 14 minutes at the crease for his 26 - but Matthew Hayden

Matthew Hayden

Matthew Lawrence Hayden AM is a former Australian cricketer, and was signed to the Chennai Super Kings in the IPL until the 2010 season. Hayden is a powerful and aggressive left-handed opening batsman, known for his ability to score quickly at both Test and one day levels.Hayden holds the record...

and Michael Clarke

Michael Clarke (cricketer)

Michael John Clarke is an Australian cricketer. He was appointed captain of the Test and ODI teams on 30 March 2011. Nicknamed 'Pup', he is a right-handed batsman, and occasional left-arm orthodox spin bowler...

spent good time in the middle making their centuries. The Australians declared on 374 for 6, and immediately dug into the Northamptonshire batsmen, who were effectively reduced to 48 for 5 when Tim Roberts retired hurt for 18. Glenn McGrath

Glenn McGrath

Glenn Donald McGrath AM , nicknamed "Pigeon", is a former Australian cricket player. He is one of the most highly regarded fast-medium pace bowlers in cricketing history, and a leading contributor to Australia's domination of world cricket from the mid-1990s to the early 21st century...

only bowled 11 overs

Over (cricket)

, but used his time well, taking three for 24, while Shaun Tait

Shaun Tait

Shaun William Tait is a professional Australian cricketer, who currently plays only in the Twenty20 format. Tait plays domestic cricket for South Australia and is also a representative for Australia at Twenty20 International level; he has also represented his country in One Day Internationals and...

and Brett Lee

Brett Lee

Brett Lee is an Australian cricketer.After breaking into the Australian Test team, Lee was recognised as one of the fastest bowlers in world cricket...

also got among the wickets with two each. Northamptonshire were bowled out for 169, and Australia opted to bat again, Simon Katich

Simon Katich

Simon Matthew Katich is an Australian cricketer. He is the captain of the New South Wales Blues, and also captained, up until the end of the 2007 season, Derbyshire County Cricket Club...

and Justin Langer

Justin Langer

Justin Lee Langer AM is a former international cricketer who represented Australia in 105 Test matches and the current Assistant Coach and Batting Coach of the Australian cricket team. A left-handed batsman, his opening partnership with Matthew Hayden was one of the most successful of all time...

both making half-centuries before the final day's play ended and the game was drawn. (Cricinfo scorecard)

Leicestershire v Northamptonshire (24-27 August)

Leicestershire (12pts) drew with Northamptonshire (8pts)

Leicestershire's

Leicestershire County Cricket Club

first innings lasted three days, in which time they scored 390 runs for the loss of six wickets. The rain meant that only 119 overs

Over (cricket)

were possible in three days. Leicestershire declared 22 balls into the fourth morning after getting 400, and spent the rest of the last day bowling Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

out for 261, Claude Henderson

Claude Henderson

Claude William Henderson is a South African cricketer who bowls left-arm spin and played in seven Tests and four ODIs from 2001 to 2002...

taking a season-best five for 63. With only one completed innings

Innings

An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of sports – most notably cricket and baseball during which one team attempts to score while the other team attempts to prevent the first from scoring. In cricket, the term innings is both singular and plural and is...

for each side, the match ended in a draw.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Nottinghamshire (28 August)

Northamptonshire (4pts) beat Nottinghamshire (0pts) by four wickets

Despite Northamptonshire Steelbacks conceding 28 extras

Extra (cricket)

, Johann Louw

Johann Louw

the main culprit by bowling six wides, they still managed to bowl their opponents Nottinghamshire Outlaws out for 207 at The County Ground, Northampton. Louw made up for his inaccurate line by taking three wicket

Wicket

s, including top scorer Chris Read

Chris Read

Christopher Mark Wells Read is an English cricketer, a wicket-keeper who is the captain of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club...

, while Australian

Australian cricket team

The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...

Damien Wright

grabbed five wickets for 37 runs. That was Wright's first National League five-for of the season, and he brought his seasonal wicket-tally to 23, the most in the division at the time. When Nottinghamshire were in the field, part-time leg spinner

Leg break

A leg break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. A delivery of a right-handed leg spin bowler. Leg breaks are also colloquially known as leggies or wrist spinners, as the wrist is the body part which is primarily used to impart spin on the ball, as opposed to the fingers in the case of...

Younis Khan

Mohammad Younus Khan is a Pakistani cricketer and former captain of the Pakistan national cricket team. Younus' name is often spelled Younis Khan, but he has been quoted as saying, "My name is Younus Khan...

took three wickets, but it didn't help, as Ben Phillips

Ben Phillips (cricketer)

Ben James Phillips is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium pace bowler.-Career:...

and Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

took Northamptonshire home with four wickets and five balls to spare, building on the efforts of Australian Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

who had made 59 from number one.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Lancashire (30 August-2 September)

Northamptonshire (19pts) beat Lancashire (6pts) by 285 runs

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

recorded their fourth win of the season thanks to their top order batting and their spin bowling. They had won the toss and batted, placing themselves well at 224 for 4, but the last six wickets yielded only 63 runs, and Lancashire seamer Dominic Cork

Dominic Cork

could take three late wickets to end with four for 27. Northamptonshire were bowled out early on the second morning for 289, but immediately hit back, Damien Wright

Damien Wright

dismissing Lancashire's

Lancashire County Cricket Club

captain Mark Chilton

Mark Chilton

for 0. In a bowling effort dominated by spinners

Spin bowling

- Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

and Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

sharing 68 of the 94 overs

Over (cricket)

bowled - Northamptonshire tugged away, and but for Stuart Law

Stuart Law

Stuart Grant Law OAM is an Australian-born cricketer. He is also the head coach of Bangladesh national cricket team, as from July, he succeeded fellow Aussie Jamie Siddons, who left shortly after the 2011 Cricket World Cup...

's 111, the hosts might have got a first innings lead. However, it was Lancashire who got a lead of 12, with Brown taking five for 113 from 36.3 overs.

James Anderson

James Anderson (cricketer)

then took two early wickets, leading to a long bowling effort for him - he bowled 28 overs, but could not add to his wicket tally, while Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

ran away to 147, adding 183 with Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

. Northamptonshire declared

Declaration and forfeiture

eight overs into the last day, with the score 400 for 6 to unleash their spinners on Lancashire's batting line-up - and they did so very successfully. Brown got his second five-for of the match, ending with match figures of ten for 135, and Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

also got three wickets as Lancashire collapsed in a heap for 103 - with only Chilton passing 20, in a reversal of fortunes from the first innings.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Glamorgan v Northamptonshire (4 September)

No result; Glamorgan (2pts), Northamptonshire (2pts)

Northamptonshire Steelbacks had set an above-average target of 283 when rain intervened at Sophia Gardens. Having been put in to bat by Glamorgan Dragons' captain Robert Croft

Robert Croft

, they got themselves to 155 for 2 thanks to fifties from Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

and David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

, and to finish the innings off Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Shafayat

Bilal Mustapha Shafayat is an English cricketer. He is a middle-order batsman, fast bowler and wicket-keeper. Shafayat was a former captain of the England under-19 side....

and Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

unleashed themselves with quick knocks. Wessels only spent 20 deliveries

Delivery (cricket)

for his unbeaten

Not out

43, while Shafayat got a run-a-ball 31. For Glamorgan, Alex Wharf

Alex Wharf

Alex Wharf is an English former first-class cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-handed medium-fast bowler, who ended his career with the Welsh side, Glamorgan County Cricket Club....

got three wickets, but conceded 71 runs from nine overs, while Andrew Davies

Andrew Davies (cricketer)

Andrew Davies is a Welsh cricketer. He is a left-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-pace bowler.Davies made his Championship debut in 1995, and, despite having an early career full of injury, he continued to play through limited overs cricket...

was almost as expensive with 53 in eight, but took four wickets. Glamorgan saw off 33 balls from Northamptonshire in chase of 283 to win, losing Croft for 1 as they made their way to 22 for 1, but rain then put an end to play and Glamorgan escaped with two points.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Somerset v Northamptonshire (7-10 September)

Northamptonshire (12pts) drew with Somerset (10pts)

Ian Blackwell

Ian Blackwell

and Arul Suppiah

Arul Suppiah

Arul Vivasvan Suppiah is an English/Malaysian cricketer. A right-handed batsman and left-arm orthodox spin bowler, he has played for the Malaysia national cricket team since 1999, and currently plays county cricket in England for Somerset....

made scores of 98 and 91 respectively, as Somerset

Somerset County Cricket Club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Somerset...

made their way to 396 batting first at Taunton, although the lower order struggled against the spin of Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

- who dug out Richard Johnson and Charl Langeveldt

Charl Langeveldt

Charl Kenneth Langeveldt is a South African ODI and Test cricketer. He is one of four Cape Coloureds in the South African side, with the others being Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy and Ashwell Prince....

for ducks

Duck (cricket)

. Matthew Wood

Matthew Wood (cricketer)

Matthew James Wood is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler.-Career:...

set the pace, adding 63 with James Francis in an opening partnership where Francis only contributed 8 before he was lbw to Steven Crook

Steven Crook

Steven Paul Crook is an Australian cricketer who plays for Middlesex in English county cricket. He is an all-rounder, bowling right-arm fast medium pace.-Cricket career:...

, who had changed counties from Lancashire

Lancashire County Cricket Club

to Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

. That was Crook's only wicket of the match, however, as he finished with match figures of 25-2-107-1.

Northamptonshire got off to a bad start, losing the first three wickets for 76 runs, but centuries

Century (cricket)

from Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

, who made 112, and David Sales

David Sales

David John Grimwood Sales is an English cricket player who has played for the cricket teams of Northamptonshire, England A and Wellington.-Domestic career:...

, ending on 154 before being caught and bowled by Richard Johnson, lifted them back with a 175-run stand for the fourth wicket. Fifties from all-rounder

All-rounder

s Damien Wright

Damien Wright

(who added 131 with Sales for the sixth wicket), Simon Crook and Johann Louw

Johann Louw

lifted Northamptonshire to 574. Then, Wright took two wickets and Somerset fell to four runs for two wickets. Francis made his second half-century and James Hildreth

James Hildreth

James Charles Hildreth is an English cricketer who plays for Somerset County Cricket Club. He attended Millfield School, Somerset. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. Hildreth represented England at all youth levels including the 2003-04 Under-19 World cup...

also scored 50, however, leaving Somerset at 163 for 4 at stumps on day three. The match was intriguingly poised, but rain ruined a potentially interesting finish, as no play was possible on day four and the match was drawn.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Durham v Northamptonshire (14-17 September)

Northamptonshire (12pts) drew with Durham (8pts)

Durham

Durham County Cricket Club

needed a draw in this match to secure promotion from Division Two of the County Championship, and the weather handed it to them, as only 222 overs of play were possible over four days. Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

went for the victory, declaring both their innings closed, but Durham hung on and escaped with eight points. Centuries

Century (cricket)

from Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

and Riki Wessels

Riki Wessels

Mattheus Hendrik Wessels, also known as Riki Wessels, is an Australian cricketer who has played for the cricket teams of Marylebone Cricket Club and Northamptonshire...

, along with 84 from Robert White

Robert White (cricketer)

lifted the visitors to 414 for 7 on the first day, despite Durham pacer Liam Plunkett

Liam Plunkett

Liam Edward Plunkett is an English cricketer, who plays for Durham and England. In the 2005 season he was Durham's leading first-class wicket-taker, with 51 wickets at a bowling average of 30.84, including eight for 88 in his first game of the season against Leicestershire.-Test cricket:Plunkett...

grabbing five for 84 and after the second day was washed out they declared

Declaration and forfeiture

.

Northamptonshire broke through immediately, Damien Wright

Damien Wright

dismissing Jimmy Maher

Jimmy Maher

James Patrick Maher is a former Australian cricketer. He is "an attractive left-handed batsman with a clumping cover-drive"....

lbw for 0, and Wright got a further three wickets as Durham were 115 for 6 at one point. Gareth Breese

Gareth Breese

and Plunkett saw out the remainder of the day, though, but Durham still needed 93 to avoid the follow on. Andrew Crook

Andrew Crook

eventually broke the partnership, as Durham lost three wickets for 15 runs to go to 224 for 9, but resistance from Brad Williams saw him add 56 from number 11 with Breese to take Durham six runs past the follow-on target of 264. Northamptonshire set about making quick runs, and lost a bucketful of wickets, Callum Thorp

Callum Thorp

Callum David Thorp is a professional Australian cricketer who currently plays for Durham as a right-arm fast-medium bowler. As both of his parents are British, he is able to play for Durham as a non-overseas player. Between 2002-2004 he played for Western Australia.-References:*...

taking three for ten as the visitors declared on 101 for 7 after 21 overs. Northamptonshire set Durham 246 to win, and got a good start when Damien Wright

Damien Wright

had Jimmy Maher

Jimmy Maher

James Patrick Maher is a former Australian cricketer. He is "an attractive left-handed batsman with a clumping cover-drive"....

bowled

Bowled

for 2, but Durham battled out 15 overs before rain set in and forced the game into a draw.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Yorkshire (21-24 September)

Northamptonshire (21pts) beat Yorkshire (3pts) by an innings and 21 runs

Northamptonshire

Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

spinners

Spin bowling

Jason Brown

Jason Brown (cricketer)

Jason Fred Brown is a cricketer who has previously played for Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, England A and Staffordshire.-Career:...

and Monty Panesar

Monty Panesar

shared all ten Yorkshire

Yorkshire County Cricket Club

Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....

wicket

Wicket

s on the first day at Northampton. Yorkshire had won the toss and recorded a 66-run opening stand when the spinners first broke through, Panesar having Matthew Wood

Matthew Wood (cricketer)

Matthew James Wood is an English cricketer who plays for Nottinghamshire. He is a right-handed batsman and occasional right-arm off-break bowler.-Career:...

caught by Robin White. The rest was one of classic spin bowling - few runs and the occasional wicket - Panesar conceded just over one run an over (ending with figures

Bowling analysis

of 27.5-11-32-5), and the average run rate for the innings was just above two. Former England

English cricket team

all-rounder

All-rounder

Craig White

Craig White is an English former first-class cricketer, and latterly cricket coach.-Life and career:...

added 51 as Yorkshire were bowled out for 177. Early wickets from Deon Kruis

Deon Kruis

Gideon Jacobus Kruis , popularly known as Deon Kruis, is a South African first-class cricketer who played in England with Yorkshire County Cricket Club for five seasons from 2004 to 2009...

reduced Northamptonshire to 34 for 2, but a three-hour stand of 220 across two days between Martin Love

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

and Usman Afzaal

Usman Afzaal

took Northamptonshire to a lead of 77 with seven wickets in hand when Love fell for 95. Afzaal pushed on, making 157 before being dismissed by Kruis - who took five for 75 - and a 76-run partnership between Simon Crook and Panesar took Northamptonshire to 476 for 9 before the declaration came. Crook fell three short of a maiden first-class century, while Yorkshire leg spinner

Leg break

Mark Lawson

Mark Lawson (cricketer)

Mark Anthony Kenneth Lawson is an English first-class cricketer. A leg spinner, he most recently played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club in June 2010. He has also played for Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Middlesex and Staffordshire.Lawson was educated at Castle Hall College...

was taken for 150 in 30 overs.

Yorkshire's scoring rate was, again, slow, and their second innings yielded 278 runs in nearly nine hours - though it was also frequently interrupted by rain. Panesar took the first five wickets, and despite partnerships of 50 for the seventh and eight wicket, Brown ended Yorkshire's innings with five of his own. The two spinners bowled 96.5 overs out of a total of 109.5 overs served up by Northamptonshire bowlers in the second innings, and ended with uncannily similar second-innings bowling analyses

Bowling analysis

: Brown 50.5-14-95-5, Panesar 46-15-96-5. Brown and Panesar also split the 20 wickets equally between them - the second time in the history of the first-class game that this feat had occurred, and the first in 100 years. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/counties/4277612.stm
(Cricinfo scorecard)

Northamptonshire v Essex (25 September)

Essex (4pts) beat Northamptonshire (0pts) by seven wickets

Essex Eagles took their thirteenth win in sixteen matches to round off their one-day season and end with a 16-point victory overall. Their bowlers built the foundation for this victory, as all seven bowlers to be used got at least one wicket

Wicket

, and despite half-centuries from Australians

Australian cricket team

The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...

Martin Love

Martin Lloyd Love is a former Australian cricketer who played in five Tests from 2002 to 2003. He was a right-handed batsman....

and Damien Wright

Damien Wright

Northamptonshire Steelbacks were bowled out for 208. Wright then took two wickets to set Essex back to 22 for 2, but Alastair Cook

Alastair Cook

then followed his 117 not out

Not out

against Worcestershire

Worcestershire County Cricket Club

Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...

in the County Championship earlier on in the week. His 110-ball 94 - a career best List A score, improving his previous best by 32 runs - was part of a 168-run stand with Grant Flower

Grant Flower

, which took Essex to the brink, with 190 for 3. Flower then hit the remaining 19 runs with Ravinder Bopara

Ravinder Bopara

Ravinder Singh Bopara is an English cricketer who plays for Essex and England. He is the second Sikh to play cricket for England, after Monty Panesar. Originally a top-order batsman, but with his developing medium pace bowling, he is becoming a vital all-rounder...

, and Essex won with seven wickets and 25 balls in hand.
(Cricinfo scorecard)

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.