Northants see off Shantry

Mooen Ali drives powerfully during his innings of 64 off 61 deliveries © Getty Images

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Northamptonshire overcame a career-best one-day performance by former paceman Adam Shantry before chalking up a four-wicket victory over Warwickshire in a rain-curtailed NatWest Pro40 League Division One match at Edgbaston.

The left-arm swing bowler took three for 30, including Chris Rogers and David Sales in the space of three deliveries, but a late acceleration saw the Steelbacks to a Duckworth-Lewis target of 158 in 28 overs.

It was always going to be a tricky chase in murky conditions and Shantry made it more difficult in an effective opening spell.

Steven Crook (16) hit the young paceman for a straight a six but deposited the next ball into Michael Powell’s hands at long on.

Rogers (11) was lbw playing across the line and Sales was comprehensively bowled before Usman Afzaal (38) and Bilal Shafayat (21) gave Northamptonshire renewed hope with a stand of 44.

Left-arm spinner Paul Harris put a stop to that with catches at extra cover and long-on, but the game slipped away from Warwickshire when Rob White (27) and Lance Klusener (25 not out) smashed 48 in six overs.

Though Neil Carter claimed a consolation wicket when White fell to a fine catch by Jonathan Trott at long off, it made no difference as Northamptonshire cruised home with an over to spare.

Usman Afzaal works the ball off his legs during Northants' run-chase © Getty Images

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For the second time in three days the Steelbacks’ bowlers had come under fire from a Birmingham cricket family.

After conceding a maiden championship century to Kadeer Ali in a dreary draw with Gloucestershire on Friday, they took further punishment when younger brother Moeen romped to his first half-century in one-day cricket from only 46 balls.

Having registered three single-figure scores in his only other appearances in limited-overs cricket this summer, Mooen grabbed a new opportunity with seven fours and a six in making 64 in Warwickshire’s 127 for four from 28.4 overs.

The 19-year-old former England Under-19 captain is in the last year of his contract and, though Warwickshire have offered him a new deal, they face competition for his services - Worcestershire and Sussex have made official approaches to talk to the all-rounder.

A regular first-team place is Moeen’s target and Warwickshire may have dangled a carrot by batting him as high as number three for the first time.

Relishing a chance to express himself, he had time to develop momentum before launching a barrage of strokes.

Warwickshire’s openers made little impact in a tight start by Matt Nicholson and Ben Phillips and Klusener bowled Powell with the last ball before rain closed the innings.

Trott was unbeaten with 38 after putting on 97 in 16 overs with Ali.