Ricardo Vasconcelos, Rob Keogh and Jason Holder all posted half centuries before rain gave Lancashire the points at Old Trafford.
Saif Zaib came into a Steelbacks side that were asked to bat first in Manchester. Northamptonshire once again found themselves in trouble early, with Cobb, Levi and Wakely all falling before the score passed 30. Josh Cobb was bowled by Mahmood for 4 with Levi falling in his next over, the hard hitting South African connecting well with his pullshot but finding the man at deep square leg. Alex Wakely became three in three overs for Mahmood, his outside edge being spectacularly caught by a diving Vilas behind the stumps.
Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh steadied things and began to lift to the total, the pair adding 76 for the fourth wicket. Ricardo Vasconcelos looked composed in his innings for 50 but fell immediately after raising the bat. Looking to drive the leg spin of Parkinson, Vasconcelos was bowled as the ball turned back through the gate. Adam Rossington fell in the next over without scoring, his powerfully hit cut being well caught at point.
Jason Holder then joined Keogh and wrestled control back for the Steelbacks. Holder impressed again with the bat, finding the fence seven times and clearing the ropes twice in his innings of 72. This half century was his third in four games in this competition, with previous scores of 86, 30 and 60*. It would take a piece of fielding magic to dismiss him too. His lofted drive being parried back from beyond the rope by Maxwell where a diving Jones completed the dual effort.
Keogh was controlled throughout his stay, reaching 50 for the second consecutive game. His 97 ball 66 ending in the 40th over as he edged Mahmood to the keeper. Procter provided another valuable lower order boost and lifted the total to something defendable for the visitors. A trio of boundaries in the final over saw him with 36 from 31, Northamptonshire finishing with 269.
The Steelbacks failed to make inroads in the first 20 overs of the Lancashire reply, Jennings and Hameed combining for a partnership of 130. A sharp piece of work in the field from Zaib ended the partnership with his direct hit from square leg finding Jennings short of his ground. A second wicket would follow 5 overs later, Hameed edging Procter to the keeper but Lancashire were always well ahead of the par score. In the 29th over the rain that had threatened all day arrived, bringing with it thunder and lightning that saw play abandoned. Lancashire winning by 45 runs (DLS method).
Northamptonshire 269 (Holder 72, Keogh 66) defeated by Lancashire 164/2 (Procter 1/31) (DLS Method). Full scorecard.
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