Ricardo Vasconcelos

Steelbacks head coach Darren Lehmann (Picture: Peter Short)

Lehmann questions batters as Steelbacks surrender unbeaten Blast start

Ben Sanderson claimed stunning career-best figures of six for eight as the Steelbacks eased to a win over Worcestershire Rapids

Six of the best for superb Sanderson as Steelbacks hit top spot in the Blast

Fast bowler Raphy Weatherall has been ruled out for the rest of the season

Big blow for Steelbacks as fast bowler Weatherall is ruled out for the season

Rain ensured no play was possible on the final day of Northants' County Championship clash at Derby

Frustration for Northants as rain calls an early halt to Derbyshire clash

Ricardo Vasconcelos scored a welcome 82 for Northants at Derby

Procter and Vasconcelos put Northants in great position against Derbyshire

George Bartlett scored two half-centuries for Northants in their pre-season friendly with Durham UCCE

Kleinveldt says 'mood is good' at Northants ahead of season opener against Kent

Saif Zaib hit a century for Northants on day one of their friendly against Warwickshire at Edgbaston

Zaib hits century as Northants enjoy strong opening day in Bears friendly

The Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol

Gloucestershire still 'disappointed' at Northants abandonment

David Willey hammers a six for the Steelbacks (Picture: Peter Short)

Steelbacks miss out on Finals Day as Somerset prove too strong at County Ground

Ben Sanderson celebrates claiming the wicket of Michael Lumb during the T20 Blast semi-final win over Notts at Edgbaston in 2016

Sanderson calls on Steelbacks to summon the spirit of 2016 against Somerset

Ricardo Vasconcelos remains a doube for the Steelbacks ahead of Thursday night's Vitality Blast quarter-final with Somerset

Opener Vasconcelos remains a doubt for Steelbacks' Vitality Blast quarter-final

Steelbacks batter Ricardo Vasconcelos

Steelbacks sweating over Vasconcelos hand fracture ahead of Blast quarter-final

Northants head coach John Sadler

Northants head coach Sadler backs Bristol abandonment but feels 'hard done by'

Northants' clash against Gloucestershire at Seat Unique Stadium in Bristol was abandoned on day one

Vasconcelos suffers fracture before Northants clash abandoned

Emilio Gay will open the batting for Northants in their four-day clash at Middlesex (Picture: Peter Short)

Gay and Vasconcelos set to open up as Northants face crucial Middlesex clash

Saif Zaib top-scored with 57 from 69 balls in Northants Steelbacks' hammering at the hands of Somerset

Sorry Steelbacks slump again as Somerset cruise to emphatic One Day Cup victory
Andy Umeed struck a commanding, clinical 63 as Somerset made short work of Northants Steelbacks, chasing down 156 to win this Metro Bank One Day Cup clash at Wantage Road inside with 148 balls to spare.
Jeremy Blackmore

Matthew Breetzke starred as Northants Steelbacks beat Lancashire Lightning to secure a home quarter-final in the Blast

Breetzke stars as Steelbacks stun Lightning to secure home Blast quarter-final

David Willey celebrates the dismissal of Dan Mousley (Picture: Peter Short)

Zaib stars with bat as Steelbacks beat Bears to clinch Blast last eight spot

Northants head coach John Sadler

Head coach Sadler brands batting 'unacceptable' as Northants are shot out for 97

Gus Miller made his first-class debut for Northants in their division two clash at Glamorgan

Gus Miller's pride as he makes instant impact on first-class debut for Northants

Raphael Weatherall (right) received instructions from David Willey before bowling the final over during the T20 Vitality Blast match between Northamptonshire Steelbacks and Leicestershire Foxes (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Steelbacks denied as Foxes snatch tie with final-ball boundary

Ricardo Vasconcelos (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Steelbacks' winning T20 start ends as Vikings sail to comfortable success

David Willey celebrates the second of his two wickets against Derbyshire in style (Picture: Peter Short)

Bopara stars on debut as Steelbacks open Blast account with last-ball win

Ricardo Vasconcelos scored a brilliant 129 not out for Northamptonshire against Yorkshire at the County Ground on Monday

Vasconcelos in form as he gets ready for the big Vitality Blast-off!

Ricardo Vasconcelos and Siddharth Kaul walk off the County Ground field after securing the draw against Yorkshire (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Brilliant Ricardo Vasconcelos century secures dramatic draw against Yorkshire

Northants batter George Bartlett

Bartlett satisfied with Northants' position after opening day at Derby

Emilio Gay top-scored for Northants with 88 on day one against Leicestershire

Top-scorer Gay says Northants happy after productive day one against Foxes
Emilio Gay believes Northants are in a great position as they head into the second day of their Vitality County Championship Division Two clash at Leicestershire.
Jeremy Casey

Northants head coach John Sadler (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Mixed emotions for Northants head coach Sadler as rain washes out final day

Karun Nair scored a brilliant unbeaten double century for Northants against Glamorgan on Sunday

Northants keeping fingers crossed wet weather won't scupper victory chance

Ricardo Vasconcelos has been named in the Northamptonshire squad for the clash with Glamorgan

Opener Vasconcelos in line for first Northants start of the season

Northants skipper Luke Procter (Picture: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Skipper Procter calls on Northants to 'play for pride' in final three matches

Ricardo Vasconcelos scored a century for the Steelbacks at Glamorgan (Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images)

Vasconcelos and Keogh hit tons but Steelbacks still lose to Glamorgan

Northants head coach John Sadler (Picture: David Rogers/Getty Images)

Sadler rues sluggish batting as Steelbacks' cup hopes hang in the balance

Tom Taylor is confident the Northants Steelbacks batters can step up and make up for the loss of Prithvi Shaw through injury (Picture: Tony Marshall/Getty Images)

Taylor backing misfiring batters to steer Steelbacks into knockout stages

Tom Taylor (photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Taylor shines again as Steelbacks see off Sussex

Jack White took three wickets for Northants (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Trio of centurions for Lancashire as Northants are put under huge pressure

David Willey's men suffered defeat at Lancashire Lightning on Sunday afternoon (photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Steelbacks bow out of Blast after defeat at Lightning

Tom Taylor took a career-best five for 28 for Steelbacks

Taylor takes five as Steelbacks thrash Yorkshire to keep Blast dreams alive

Ricardo Vasconcelos delivered with the bat

'We still believe' - Sanderson insists Steelbacks can still qualify

Ben Sanderson

Sanderson shines as Steelbacks secure big win against Outlaws

Ricardo Vasconcelos has missed three of the past four Blast matches with a wrist problem

In-form Vasconcelos on course to return from injury for Lightning clash

Emilio Gay top-scored for the Steelbacks at Durham

Gay frustrated as Steelbacks come up short in Blast trip to Durham

Saif Zaib hammered an unbeaten 70 to steer the Steelbacks to victory at New Road

Sensational Saif seals six-wicket success for on-song Steelbacks

The Steelbacks players celebrate Josh Cobb's stunning catch to dismiss Bears' Rob Yates on Wednesday night - but there hasn't been too much else to smile about in the Blast so far

Struggling Steelbacks need big guns to start firing to turn Blast form around

Ricardo Vasconcelos scored a superb 65 for the Steelbacks in their defeat to the Bears (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Top-scorer Vasconcelos concedes basic mistakes cost Steelbacks in Bears loss

David Willey bowls to Bears top-scorer Rob Yates (Picture: Peter Short)

Another defeat for Steelbacks as table-topping Bears prove too strong

Chris Lynn was dismissed off the third ball of the match (Picture: Peter Short)

Head coach Sadler offers up no excuses as Steelbacks are thrashed by Durham

Ricardo Vasconcelos made 52 for the Steelbacks (Picture: Peter Short)

Sowter and Clark star for Durham as Steelbacks suffer a Blast battering

Graeme White in action against Worcestershire Rapids (Picture: Peter Short)

White admits Steelbacks will have to up their game ahead of Durham clash

Ricardo Vasconcelos is bowled by Usama Mir

Sadler frustrated by Rapids reverse but insists the Steelbacks will bounce back

Northants Steelbacks celebrate claiming a wicket in the Worcestershire Rapids innings (Picture: Peter Short)

Batting collapse costs Steelbacks as they slump to opening Blast defeat

Saif Zaib

Zaib shows class but Northants slip to another innings defeat

Tom Taylor celebrates claiming the wicket of Ben Duckett (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Batting coach Ben Smith hopeful Northants can rally against Notts

Brett Hutton celebrates one of his five wickets for Notts (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Notts pace bowler Brett Hutton returns to haunt struggling Northants

Emilio Gay made his first appearance of the summer on Thursday

John Sadler praise for Emilio Gay as batter makes early return for Northants