Rain put an end to the Steelbacks’ hopes of back to back wins in the Vitality Blast, their strong position against Leicestershire washed away.
Josh Cobb announced a single change to the Steelbacks side at the toss, Tom Sole replacing the in-form Rob Keogh who missed out through illness. The Foxes won the toss and elected to bat in cloudy conditions with the forecast threatening.
Northamptonshire’s bowlers picked up where they left off against Durham on Wednesday as they took regular wickets to restrict Leicestershire’s innings. Faheem struck in the second over of the match when he found the outside edge through to Rossington. Aaron Lilley went in the next, top edging a wild swing off Sanderson, Graeme White under the swirling high ball.
A 64 run partnership between Cosgrove and Dearden threatened but never ran away from the Steelbacks, Dearden stumped off the pad of Rossington in the 12th over. Pretorius had the first of his three wickets in the next over, Cosgrove giving himself too much room and having his stumps rattled. Hill and Ackerman were the South African’s next victims, Hill falling to a superb return reflex catch and Ackerman too losing his stumps.
Sanderson took his haul to four as he found a trio of wickets to finish the innings. Ali driving a ball straight to Faheem at cover, Klein and Parkinson both caught on the deep midwicket fence. It meant Leicestershire mustered just 137 in their 20 overs, what looked a below par total on a good wicket.
The Steelbacks chase got underway well with 8 runs coming from the first over, it wouldn’t go much further though as the rain arrived after just 6 balls. A 20 minute break saw the target reduced to 133 from 19, but there’d be just 8 more deliveries before the rain set in and the match was abandoned.
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