Super six for White as Steelbacks see off Lightning

Muhammad Azharullah bowled Alviro Petersen early in the Lancashire reply (pictures: Kirsty Edmonds)

Graeme White had Lancashire Lightning in a spin as Northants Steelbacks secured their first Royal London One-Day Cup win of the season.

White claimed a career best six for 37 as the Steelbacks superbly defended their 287 for eight to win by 76 runs and ensure they would bounce back from Monday’s thrilling 20-run defeat at Nottinghamshire Outlaws.

Ben Duckett’s impressive 98 set the home side up for victory at the County Ground, with Rob Keogh adding a tidy 66.

That left Lightning, for whom Nathan Buck and Saqib Mahmood took three wickets apiece, with a tricky task in reply, and they started slowly.

Lancashire registered few boundaries early in their innings

Muhammad Azharullah removed Alviro Petersen for just two before White got into the action.

The left-arm spinner got rid of Tom Smith and Karl Brown, who had looked in good shape before going for 51 off 48 balls.

England star Jos Buttler came to the crease, but he didn’t stick around for long as Seekkuge Prasanna bowled him before performing a trademark ‘dab’ celebration.

One captain then ran out another as Alex Wakely saw off Steven Croft, who had made 20, and White returned to dismiss Jordan Clark, who was stumped by Adam Rossington.

Ben Duckett was in fine form for Northants

Luke Procter was still providing some resistance for Lancashire, but the other end was more of a problem.

White was really catching the eye and he claimed the second five-wicket haul of his List A career as he outfoxed Stephen Parry, bowling the Lightning man for six.

And the Steelbacks spinner wasn’t done there as he bowled Buck, who had hit him for four earlier in the over.

White’s figures were the sixth best by a Northants player in List A cricket and the best for 11 years.

Ben Duckett fell two runs short of his century

Procter was still there and he proceeded to make his way to a half-century, from 53 balls, but he finally fell as Azharullah bowled him to confirm an impressive Northants win.

Steelbacks: Rossington, Cobb, Duckett, Wakely (c), Keogh, Newton, Crook, Prasanna, White, Gleeson, Azharullah.

Lancashire Lightning: Procter, Petersen, Brown, Livingstone, Buttler, Croft (c), Smith, Clark, Parry, Buck, Mahmood.