Patel on target

Another day, another matchturning performance in England by former Black Caps offspinner Jeetan Patel. The 37-year-old, who last month confirmed his retirement from international cricket but will return to Wellington for another domestic season, moved to the top of the Twenty20 Blast’s wicket-taking charts as his Birmingham Bears chalked up another win. Patel took 2-27 off his four overs to help restrict Northamptonshire to 170-7 and clinch a two-run win in a final-ball thriller at Northampton. It boosted Patel’s tally to 14 wickets from nine matches at the remarkable average of 16 and economy rate of 6.22. Patel moved past Leicestershire’s Australian import Clint McKay who has 13 wickets. The Bears are top of the North Group ahead of Derbyshire who have Black Caps seamer Matt Henry in their ranks.