Northants beat Vipers in rain hit cup clash

By 2pm it was clear no play would be possible and the two captains and the 2 umpires agreed that a bowl out was required.

The two teams tentitivly ventured out into the pouring rain for a bowl out held on a soaked pitch which made the already random nature of a bowl out even more chaotic.

Charles Ronayne who was just there to watch was persuaded to keep wicket during the bowl out.

Nikhil Nair won the toss for Vipers and elected to bowl. Alan Chamley took his three shots at the stumps first without success. Alastair Provan stepped up for Northants and sent his first delivery a long way wide. His second delivery however was bang on target to give his side a 1-0 lead and after his third delivery missed that was how the score remained after each sides first bowler.

Ali Safder stepped up next for Vipers and sent down two reasonable efforts that missed by a smallish margin. His third effort looked on target all the way but just missed to leave Northants 1-0 up. Next was Ian Goodearl for Northants and his first two deliveries were also not particularly close to the stumps. Ian's third ball was closer but it still missed.

Then it was on to the b1's, first was Vipers Captain Nikhil Nair, Three reasonable efforts followed with the third getting nearest to the stumps but still no hit for Vipers. Then Northants captain Dave Gavrilovic stepped up and bowled a delivery that was headed well wide before catching the edge of the pitch and deflecting back across onto the stumps. It was unquestionably very lucky but it gave Northants a 2-0 lead. Gavrilovic's last two deliveries weren't particularly close to the stumps.

So Chris Syrett of Vipers needed to hit with two of his three deliveries to keep his side in the game. He didn't hit on either of his first two efforts and the game was over without Jagdisch Pata Northants fourth bowler needing to take his turn. Northants now progress to host Warwickshire on June 9th in the quarter finals.

Northants team: T Willis; D Gavrilovic; I Goodearl; A Provan; D Keeling; S Hill; M Provan; N Killen; M Simons; E Stonhill; J Pata

Man of the match: Alastair Provan

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