Chaminda Vaas starred with bat and ball as Northamptonshire finally broke their Friends Provident t20 duck with a 21-run win over Worcestershire.

Former Sri Lanka all-rounder Vaas made 54 as a makeshift opener to help the Steelbacks reach 143-8 from their 20 overs at Wantage Road.

The left-hander was dropped twice by James Cameron during a 71-run stand with Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O'Brien, who made 31, for the second wicket.

Lou Vincent (18) and Rob White (13) were the only other home batsmen to make it into double figures, Jack Shantry taking 2-24 as the innings subsided after getting off to a steady start.

Super Vaas
However Worcestershire never came close in reply, Vaas again proving their tormentor-in-chief as he picked up 2-13 from his three overs.

Nicky Boje picked up the crucial wicket of Phil Jacques for 10 before running out Moeen Ali (19) after an awful mix-up involving Alex Kervezee.

Steven Smith became the first of two wickets to fall to off-spinner James Middlebrook and when Vaas removed Kervezee (19), the visitors were 72-5.

Daryl Mitchell did his best to keep the Royals afloat, making 21, only to fall in the closing stages, leaving Ben Scott unbeaten at the end on 23.

Source Sky Sports