Match-winner Sanderson fuels Northants confidence

Seamer Ben Sanderson savoured a "perfect day" after his incredible spell led Northamptonshire to an innings win over Worcestershire.

Sanderson took 6-7 in the space of 29 balls at Wantage Road to finish with 7-31 and career-best match figures of 11-109.

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It was Northants' first victory of the season - and indeed their first since beating Middlesex by four wickets in June 2025.

"It's probably one of my better spells - the ball change helped, the lights coming on, overcast conditions, but it felt beautiful coming out of my hand, " the 37-year-old told BBC Radio Northampton.

"Everything I tried seemed to work at the time and you need that bit of luck as well. We talk about banging away at the top of off (stump) and I can't do any more than that."

Sanderson made his Northants debut in 2016 and only needs five more wickets to reach 450 in first-class cricket.

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He hopes the win over Worcestershire will be followed by more before the first block of Championship games comes to an end later this month.

"It was a perfect day, I don't think we could have done anything better," he said.

"We've dominated probably three games out of four and that victory's been coming for a while - it's much needed and well earned by everyone.

"The confidence just grows. With this win under our belts, if we keep playing how we are, we should get a couple more victories in this last little block (of games)."

Their next two matches are both away - against Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

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Head coach Darren Lehmann said: "You need exceptional performances like Ben Sanderson's but our batters have gone to another level this year, which gives our bowlers more time to get 20 wickets."

Northants were 50-6 in the first innings of their opening game of the season against Lancashire but managed to hang on for a draw with their last-wicket pair at the crease.

And Lehmann believes not losing that game gave his players extra confidence for the season ahead.

"The way we fought it out against a quality side, to scratch our way to a draw with the last two batting together for an hour, that just gives the blokes belief and that's what we want - you're going to have to play well to beat us," he said.

"We want to play our way, throw the first punch, if you like, get on the front foot and drive the game and I think we did that pretty well in this game (against Worcestershire)."

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