Yorkshire maintain National League challenge with six wicket win at Northampton

Yorkshire Phoenix maintained their challenge for the National League Division One title with a comfortable six-wicket victory over Northamptonshire Steelbacks at Wantage Road.

Paceman Matthew Hoggard (5-30) and Darren Gough (3-19) both celebrated their selection in England's Test squad for the winter with outstanding bowling stints as the home side, who opted to bat first, were skittled for just 109.

And Yorkshire survived the early loss of Victor Craven and Michael Vaughan to reach their target, and record their eighth win of the campaign, with 14.3 overs to spare.

Northants were unable to recover after Hoggard and Gough removed key batsmen Mal Loye, Matthew Hayden and David Sales in successive overs with the new ball.

They slumped further to 22-5 before Graeme Swann (25) offered some token resistance, and some measure of respectability was achieved thanks to Kevin Innes (27 not out) and Darren Cousins (18) who posted 40 in 15 overs for the ninth wicket.

But it was another stunning effort from Yorkshire's bowlers who had dismissed Lancashire Lightning for 68 and Leicestershire Foxes for 53 in their two previous National League outings.

Needing early wickets to stay in the game, Northants saw their hopes rise briefly as Craven drove Tony Penberthy to mid-off and Darren Cousins knocked off Michael Vaughan's off stump.

But Yorkshire nerves were steadied by acting-skipper Darren Lehmann (37) and Anthony McGrath (36 not out) as Hayden's men suffered their first defeat in eight matches in all competitions.