Worcestershire CCC Academy went down by eight runs in a low-scoring Tri-Series match with Northamptonshire Development X1 at Holcott CC despite a fine bowling performance from paceman Billy Cox.
Cox took the new ball and justified skipper Jujhar Johal’s decision to put the opposition into bat.
He claimed three of the first four wickets to fall to leave Northants on 35-4 and then returned to take the final wicket as the home side were dismissed for 138 in 42.5 overs.
Cox finished with the excellent figures of 4-14 in 7.5 overs and there were also tight spells from Josh Dickenson (2-25 in nine) and Mahaaz Ahmed (1-19 in eight).
But Worcestershire also found batting a challenge as they were bowled out for 130 in 35.3 overs.
Opener Jujhar Johal made 30 off 56 balls with four fours but Worcestershire collapsed from 83-3 to 100-9.
It needed Alex Coates to revive their victory hopes as he dominated a last wicket stand with George McCormick.
Coates made 32 off 49 balls with five fours and added 30 with McCormick before the former was stumped.
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Northants Development X1
H Adair c S Flavell b B Cox 15
C Thurston* c S Flavell b A Coates 9
D Hussain c G McCormick b B Cox 2
Z Khawaja+ c J Johal b B Cox 4
W Thomas lbw b R Barker 9
U Amjaid st S Flavell b M Ahmed 15
W Heathfield b R Barker 11
A Rafique lbw b J Dickenson 19
T Heathfield c S Flavell b J Dickenson 9
J Hollings c R Barker b B Cox 13 41
G Wade not out 6
Extras 26
Total (all out) 138 in 42.5 overs
FOW: 23, 29, 34. 35, 52, 72, 98, 113, 118, 138
Bowling
B Cox 7.5-0-14-4
A Coates 7-1-28-1
R Barker 6-0-32-2
G McCormick 5-0-13-0
J Dickenson 9-2-25-2
M Ahmed 8-1-19-1
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Worcestershire Academy
C Lea c A Rafique b T Heathfield 6
J Johal* c T Heathfield b G Wade 30
D Holland b T Heathfield 3
M Ahmed c H Adair b A Rafique 10
X Clarke b G Wade 16
K Green c W Thomas b G Wade 0
S Flavell+ b J Hollings 2
A Coates st Z Khawaja b U Amjaid 32
B Cox c Z Khawaja b J Hollings 0
R Barker lbw b U Amjaid 0
G McCormick not out 0
Extras 31
Total (all out) 130 in 35.3
FOW: 11, 15, 53, 83, 84, 84, 97, 98, 100, 130
Bowling
T Heathfield 6-1-19-2
J Hollings 9-0-45-2
A Rafique 4-1-10-1
G Wade 8-0-37-3
U Amjaid 8.3-3-14-2
