Cook blows Lancs away

Cook scored a quickfire century

Norwich Union League D2, Northampton: Northamptonshire v Lancashire

Match scorecard

Jeffry Cook produced an explosive all-round performance as Northamtonshire beat Lancashire by 62 runs in the Norwich Union League division two match at the County Ground.

Cook blasted a quickfire century and weighed in with three cheap wickets as Lancashire were blown away.

The visitors thought they were in with a chance after reducing Northants to 48-3, with Mike Hussey and Mal Loye among the batsmen back in the pavillion.

But Cook joined forces with the in-form David Sales to turn the match around.

Hegg's efforts were in vain

The pair put on 109 for the fourth wicket, with Sales contributing 64 from 72 balls, including two sixes and five fours, before being trapped lbw by leg spinner Chris Schofield.

Cook continued to punish the Lancashire bowling attack, plundering four sixes and nine fours in an 84-ball 102.

He was kept company by Tony Penberthy (38no) in a stand of 95 and Northants were 252-5 by the time Cook was bowled by John Wood.

Penberthy marshalled the tail end as Northants ended on an impressive 261-8 from their 45 overs.

Lancashire started their reply brightly with an opening stand of 68 between Alec Swann and Mark Chilton.

Eventful overs

Chilton was stumped by Toby Bailey off the bowling of off spinner Jason Brown, but David Byas helped Lancashire past the 100 mark without further loss.

The demise of Byas, run out, marked a steady fall of wickets, and when Swann was also run out for 61 Lancashire had little chance of reaching their target.

Cook made sure by claiming the wickets of Schofield, Wood and Peter Martin in 2.2 eventful overs.

Warren Hegg weighed in with 28 runs from just 11 balls, including a brace of sixes and fours, but his efforts were in vain.

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Northamptonshire: M E K Hussey (Capt), M B Loye, D J G Sales D E Paynter, J W Cook, A L Penberthy, G P Swann, T M B Bailey (Wkt) C G Greenidge, D M Cousins, J F Brown.

Lancashire: M J Chilton, A J Swann, D Byas, N H Fairbrother R C Driver, G D Lloyd, W K Hegg (Capt, Wkt), G Chapple C P Schofield, P J Martin, J Wood.

Umpires: J H Hampshire and T E Jesty