Northamptonshire Steelbacks vs Sussex Sharks: Match report

Tom Taylor blasted 42 off just 23 balls to lead Northamptonshire to their first Metro Bank One Day Cup victory in a gripping encounter against Sussex Sharks at Wantage Road.

Taylor came together with Justin Broad with the Steelbacks in real trouble on 173 for seven, still needing 70 to win in just 7.2 overs.

But Taylor, fresh from a maiden List A century against Gloucestershire at Cheltenham on Friday, took advantage of a largely inexperienced bowling attack, smashing three sixes and three fours.

Together with Justin Broad (22), the pair knocked off the runs required from just 36 balls with an over to spare.

Needing 14 runs to win off the last two overs, Taylor swung a huge six off Ari Karvelas before Broad hit another maximum to clinch victory.

Earlier Cheteshwar Pujara’s patient, classy undefeated 106 (119 balls) was the backbone of Sussex’s innings.

Against a disciplined Steelbacks attack in conditions favouring the bowlers, Pujara was content to play the long game, scoring at close to a run a ball and keeping risk to a minimum.

He collected just three boundaries in his first 79 runs, before pressing the accelerator with two sixes in the closing overs to take him into three figures as the Sharks closed on 240 for seven.

Northamptonshire’s Jack White (3-29) had struck in successive overs to remove both Sharks openers cheaply before Pujara and James Coles (29) rebuilt in a stand of 50 off 50 balls.

Steelbacks skipper Lewis McManus’ bowling changes made impacts at key moments to peg back the visitors’ momentum, but the lower order kept Pujara company, taking the offensive option as Sussex’s innings ended with a flourish.

With rain reducing the match to 45 overs a side, Northamptonshire’s revised target was 243, but despite a stand of 57 between Ricardo Vasconcelos (37) and Sam Whiteman (30) and a spirited 36 from McManus, the Steelbacks looked down and out before Taylor and Broad came together.

Report provided by ECB Reporter's Network