Northants Steelbacks v Lancashire, Metro Bank One Day Cup

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Northants Steelbacks all-rounder Gus Miller struck a superb 115, his maiden first team century, to set up a 67-run victory over Lancashire in the Metro Bank One Day Cup at Northampton.

Miller shared a 153-run partnership in 25 overs with Aadi Sharma (61), while skipper Nathan McSweeney hit 78, his fourth half-century of the competition as the hosts posted 347 for six.

In the chase, Marcus Harris made 57 and was joined by Rocky Flintoff (34) in a stand worth 85, but it was the in-form Joe Moores who threatened to win the game almost single-handedly, despite the mounting run rate.

He made a magnificent 85 off just 59 balls before he was run out in a calamitous mix-up.

Northamptonshire’s Indian international leg-spinner Yuzi Chahal was the pick of the bowlers with figures of four for 60 in 10 overs.

Lancashire assistant coach William Porterfield said:

“We thought the total was not a million miles off par. We knew it was going to be really good pitch from the off. Both sides in the powerplay, I think there might have been a little bit there with the ball, and we were trying to make first use of that. The outfield is extremely quick and a very good pitch, so we just basically wanted to know what we were chasing within that.

[Did you think you could chase that total?] “Yeah, very much so. The lads were confident at half time. You always want to restrict them to a few less, but we were in a game with 380 played 360 last week. We knew with quick outfields and good pitches that anything's chasable. You just had to give yourself that platform, and unfortunately, we were always probably just a wicket or two behind where we wanted to be. The scoring rate was never really an issue. It was just we were that wicket or two behind the rate.

“Even writing down until Moorsey got out, we were always in with the rate, we just wanted one of those partnerships to extend for another 35, 50 runs, and it takes a bit of pressure off the next guys coming in, but we always managed to get going again. It was an extremely good pitch and a quick outfield with gettable boundaries. So, we always felt confident that we were in the game. We had a chat at halftime, breaking the game down, and we always knew with around 100 in the last 10, we were in the game. I think we were five down at that stage, so maybe one more than what we'd have liked to have been, and then we just lost a couple of wickets, and once that happens, we were just always behind the game.

“It was a pretty special innings from Joe Moores. It's the maturity that he shows at the creases. He seems to take everything in his stride at the minute, and we’ve just got to look after him and keep trying to nurture him. But he's a fantastic talent, and he's shown it again today. It's his maturity and composure. His decision-making is on point. I think he's got a very bright future. Just got to keep letting him go out there and do what he can do.

“We've got a couple of days off now. We finish with three in five days at the end of next week. So, yeah, it would have been nice, obviously, to get across the line today. It wasn't to be. I think across five games, we’ve played some very good cricket. We've been in every game and coming down the back end, we've just got to carry that on and keep looking to improve in little areas. But we're in a good space. We’ve just got to carry that into next week.”