0-3 after three balls, then 19-6 and they WON!
NORTHANTS’ STUNNING COMEBACK
NORTHaNTS recovered from losing three wickets from the first three balls of the day to pull off an amazing Royal london One- day Cup victory at Worcestershire.
after all-rounder Joe leach’s incredible first-over hat-trick, Northants fell to 19 for six. But in a gripping game on an unpredictable pitch, Northants reached a creditable 126 thanks to Rory Kleinveldt’s 33 from 39 balls.
Then paceman Mohammad azharullah took four for 22 as Worcestershire were dismissed for 105 in 31 overs to slump to a 21-run defeat.
leach, 24, said: ‘I can’t believe I’m stood here after we’ve lost that game. Obviously the first three balls were an unbelievable feeling but I’m gutted at the way the rest of the game has gone.
‘ I just put the ball in what I thought was a decent area and the batsmen nicked it. The hat-trick ball came out a little shorter than I intended and that was partly the reason why he (Ben duckett) gloved it.
‘Cricket’s a funny old game, isn’t it? On some days you bowl six perfect balls and get taken for eight off an over. Other days you don’t get it quite right and get a hat-trick.’
leach had Richard levi and Rob Keogh caught behind and his third victim duckett was caught in the gully.
azharullah said: ‘I can’t really believe what happened. It’s been an amazing day, an amazing game of cricket, that’s what it’s all about, our team — the entertainers. We entertained today!
‘I don’t remember a game like that in my career. It was a oncein-a-lifetime experience. We just pulled this game out, I don’t know how, but it was an absolutely wonderful team effort.
‘You have to praise our captain (alex Wakely). He said, “We are not going to let them get this score. You have got to put effort in and fight for me”.’
leach’s feat is not unique in modern times. In 2003 Sri lanka’s Chaminda Vaas began a World Cup match with three wickets in three balls against Bangladesh in South africa.
after leach’s spell of four for 30, Jack Shantry stepped in with three wickets in 11 balls and ended with four for 29.
Worcestershire fell to 48 for six before leach took centre stage again, smashing 21 off 10 balls but then top-edged to third man.
Wickets continued to tumble and the match ended when wicketkeeper Ben Cox skied Kleinveldt to deep cover after making 36, the top score of a remarkable day.