Hoggard grabs five in rout of Northants

Matthew Hoggard celebrated his selection for England's touring party with a match-winning performance to boost Yorkshire Phoenix's National League First Division title chances.

Matthew Hoggard celebrated his selection for England's touring party with a match-winning performance to boost Yorkshire Phoenix's National League First Division title chances.

The 23-year-old paceman snapped up 5 for 30 to help dismiss Northamptonshire Steelbacks for 109 at Wantage Road yesterday as Yorkshire secured a comfortable six-wicket win with more than 14 overs to spare.

Hoggard and Darren Gough (3 for 19) destroyed the Northants top order, dismissing Mal Loye, Matthew Hayden and David Sales in successive overs, and when Jeff Cook and Tony Penberthy also departed cheaply the home side were in desperate trouble at 22 for 5.

Graeme Swann (25) counter-attacked with five boundaries, but when Hoggard bowled him with the final ball of his nine-over stint the result was all but decided. Northants did achieve a measure of respectability through Kevin Innes (27 not out) and Darren Cousins (18), the pair adding 40 in 15 overs for the ninth wicket.

Yorkshire dismissed Lancashire Lightning for 68 and Leicestershire Foxes for 53 in their previous two National League outings, and Hoggard raised his own tally to 13 wickets for just 73 runs in those three excellent team bowling efforts.

The Steelbacks needed early wickets to make a game of it, and their hopes were raised briefly when Victor Craven drove Paul Taylor to mid-off and Michael Vaughan lost his off-stump to Cousins, leaving Yorkshire on 27 for 2.

However, Darren Lehmann (37) and Anthony McGrath (36 not out) settled any nerves and ended Northants' run of seven successive victories in all competitions.

Ian Harvey hit a 27-ball half-century as Gloucestershire celebrated their NatWest Trophy success over Warwickshire by amassing 269 for 9 in their floodlit National League match with Leicestershire at Bristol.

The Australian all-rounder has been struggling with a bruised hip after he collided with South Africa's Lance Klusener in this month's one-day series in Melbourne.

He was rated doubtful for tonight's game and Leicestershire must have been cursing his decision to play as he hammered 12 fours in his 35-ball innings of 66.

Harvey took four boundaries from a Jonathan Dakin over - which cost 19 - and was within sight of his career-best one-day score of 88 when leg spinner Anil Kumble had him caught by Aftab Habib at mid-off.

Harvey's departure left Gloucestershire on 92 for 2 in the 18th over, but Matt Windows and Jeremy Snape ensured his good work was not wasted.

They put on 130 in 23 overs for the fourth wicket before Snape was well caught by Kumble at mid-wicket off Vince Wells for 71, having hit four fours in his 85-ball innings.

Windows was caught and bowled by Kumble for 61 and then four wickets fell in the last two overs.

But that was of little consolation to Leicestershire, who are battling to avoid relegation.