LV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP DIVISION TWO, Northampton:
Northants 274 and 171-7 beat Sussex 175 and 269 by three wickets
Northants 21 pts, Sussex 3 pts
Match scorecard

Andrew Hall made a winning start - despite being dismissed for a duck

New skipper Andrew Hall led Northants to a nervous three-wicket win in his first game in charge to unseat Division Two leaders Sussex at Wantage Road.

Alex Wakely's 51 and former captain Nicky Boje's 42 from 56 balls steered the hosts towards victory after they had been reduced to 88-5 chasing 171.

James Middlebrook and David Willey finally saw their side home on 171-7.

Earlier, three wickets each for Jack Brooks and Lee Daggett helped Northants bowl out Sussex for 274.

Sussex had resumed on 137-2, 38 ahead of Northants, with Michael Thornely and captain Murray Goodwin on 45 and 21 respectively.

Thornely completed a patient half-century from 138 balls before edging Daggett to Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien.

England wicketkeeper Matt Prior then went without scoring when he was trapped lbw in Brooks' first over of the day.

Goodwin was superbly caught at second slip by David Sales off the bowling of Daggett, and the collapse continued when Andrew Hodd gave Wakely the easiest of catches before James Middlebrook trapped Ollie Rayner leg before for 27.

Willey took the wicket of Rana Naved in the second over after lunch when a loose shot from the Pakistan international went to second slip. And Robin Martin-Jenkins was left unbeaten on 55 off 71 balls.

The Northamptonshire chase began badly when Stephen Peters was trapped lbw by Naved.

Fellow opener O'Brien made 24 before his drive off Collymore was well caught by Anyon at wide mid-on.

Anyon himself forced Sales to play on to leave Northants on 57-3, before Rob White was caught and bowled by Rayner in the first over after tea.

Hall, who faced four balls without scoring, then became the next batsman out lbw, dismissed by Rayner.

Chris Nash claimed the wickets of Boje and Wakely, caught by Collymore and Prior respectively after valuable scores, before Middlebrook and Willey ensured Northamptonshire's third win of the season.

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