Swann clubs Northants to victory

In the latest round of the Twenty20 Cup, there were wins for Middlesex and Northamptonshire in the only two games played this evening.

At Southgate, Paul Weekes and Owais Shah guided Middlesex to a comfortable nine-wicket win with 10 balls to spare against Essex. After Essex were put in, a measured 47 from 51 balls from Andy Flower kept them above water. Middlesex took wickets at regular intervals as only three other batsmen apart from Flower made it into double figures in their below par 120 for 8. Weekes and Shah then cruised home with Weekes unbeaten on 55, and Shah finishing with 48 from 38 balls, including five fours and two sixes.

It was a much closer affair at Edgbaston where Northamptonshire beat Warwickshire by four wickets with one over to go. Warwickshire batted first, and a rescuing stand of 60 between Jonathan Trott and Trevor Penney dug them out of a hole after they had faltered to 36 for 5 with Brad Hogg and Ian Bell both out for nought. Trott hit 39 from 31 balls, while Penney finished with 32 not out from 33 balls to help Warwickshire to 123 for 7. Johan Louw, the South African bowler, finished with the most economical figures in the tournament so far - 2 for 6 from his four overs. In reply, Northants also made a slow start as they lost wickets regularly, with Brad Hogg taking 3 for 12. However, contributions from David Sales and Graeme Swann down the order was enough for their first victory of the tournament - which Swann, who scored 35 not out from 26 balls, signalled with a huge six over midwicket.

Middlesex 121 for 1 (Weekes 55, Shah 48*) beat Essex 120 for 8 (Flower 47) by nine wickets at Southgate
Scorecard

Northamptonshire 125 for 6 (Swann 35*) Warwickshire 123 for 7 (Trott 39, Penney 32*) by four wickets at Edgbaston
Scorecard