Worcestershire decimated Northants in front of a packed Kidderminster crowd to leave themselves on the verge of lifting the NatWest Pro40 title.

Moeen Ali needed just 48 runs to hit 100 before being bowled next ball, and with Steve Davies' 74 also key the hosts totalled an impressive 281-7.

Nadeem Malik quickly removed the first four Northants batsmen for his maiden wickets in this year's competition.

There was no comeback, Northants all out for 130 in 21.2 overs.

Malik tore out South African trio Nicky Boje, Lance Klusener and Riki Wessels in the space of just five balls with some devastating seam bowling.

Worcestershire, in dire straits financially following the New Road floods earlier in the season, then had the opportunity of watching the televised final stages of the Hampshire v Gloucestershire match at the Rose Bowl.

A win for Gloucestershire would have handed the title to Worcestershire there and then.

It wasn't to be, but they will secure the silverware if they take one point from their final two matches - at Gloucestershire and Warwickshire - or if Hampshire fail to win their last game with Lancashire.