Lloyd Pope took 4/19 while George Bartlett struck an unbeaten 62 to help the Steelbacks to a five-wicket win over Buckinghamshire.
After the away side opted to bat at Wantage Road against a Northamptonshire side filled with first class experience, with Bartlett, James Sales, Freddie Heldreich and Lloyd Pope all selected, it was Cameron Hemp who grabbed the initial momentum.
The impressive Hemp smashed 42, including four sixes at the top of the order, to give Buckinghamshire the perfect start on a pitch playing nicely to seam, until Pope flipped the innings with a high-class spell.
Trapping Hemp and Ryan Friend in front in the same over reduced the visitors to 69-2, before the Australian leg spinner then dismissed the remainder of the top order. Billy Dodds’ resistance of 35 was broken by a ripping delivery that pitched on leg stump and kissed the off bail.
The momentum of the innings was then sapped out of Buckinghamshire as their tail scratched their way to a defendable total with some important blows late on. Ben Taylor’s gutsy 24 was key as Northamptonshire were set 161 to win from their forty overs.
Aadi Sharma began the chase in typically fluent fashion before he was caught in the deep for a brisk 18, with fellow opener, Arush Buchake then dismissed in the same fashion. Archie Dodds the bowler and Conner Haddow the man who held on twice.
When Justin Broad, a fine player of spin, was bowled through the gate for just 15 by Haddow, Northamptonshire were 51-3 and stuttering.
That then brought captain Bartlett to the crease and he and Sales calmly shared a stand of 80 as they made serene progress towards the total in spite of the top order collapse.
Bartlett’s innings in particular caught the eye, batting fluently and punishing bowlers all around the wicket as he made sure he was there at the end, unbeaten on 60 from 70 balls.
Sales’ knock increased in fluency as it progressed before the young right-hander was caught behind for 34, off the bowling of Max Uttley, with the home side still needing 30.
Such was the pace of Bartlett’s innings, though, run rate was never a factor as he continued past 50 and even after Alex Corbett gave his wicket away with 18 still to get, Heldreich’s experience told as his unbeaten 13 was enough to ensure Graeme White’s side got home with just over four overs to spare.
A couple of well-timed boundaries sealed the deal as the players shook hands to complete a successful day of 40 over cricket in which both sides played their part.
Photo credit: Alex Greggor