Hain finds form as Warwickshire cruise

Sam Hain was in fine form as defending champions Warwickshire got their Royal London Cup campaign started with a win on a wet day at Wantage Road. Hain made an unbeaten 89 as he and Will Porterfield knocked off a DLS-adjusted target of 159 without loss.

Warwickshire have had a difficult start to the season in the Championship, with a draw and two defeats, but they shrugged off those difficulties with a strong collective display at the start of white-ball competition. Northamptonshire's innings was interrupted several times by rain and only Rob Keogh made a score of note as they were dismissed for 151 in a game reduced to 30 overs a side.

Hain, the leading run-scorer in last year's Royal London Cup, removed any doubt that it was a below-par total as he raced to a 30-ball fifty before reining in. The hundred stand came up in the 16th over and Porterfield also recorded a half-century, from a rather more sedate 63 balls, before hitting the winning runs with four overs to spare.

It was a welcome return to form for Hain who lost his place in Warwickshire's Championship side for their last match. He and Porterfield, who shared 180 for the opening wicket to help their side beat Northants at Edgbaston last season, ground their opponents down again with the home side finding nothing in response to a poor effort with the bat.

Northants, having been sent in on a cold gloomy day, were certainly not helped by three delays due to varying amounts of drizzle, but failed to develop any significant partnerships. Ben Duckett fell for just 7 in a fine opening spell from Rikki Clarke, slapping straight to extra cover. Alex Wakely then chipped a catch back to the bowler, smartly taken down low by Clarke, who took 2 for 18 in his seven overs, either side of rain delays.

Cobb settled well after driving Chris Wright down the ground for his opening boundary. He muscled debutant Grant Thornton over the midwicket fence but to the final ball of an Oliver Hannon-Dalby over in which he had already taken two boundaries, holed out to long-on for 33.

Thereafter, Keogh played smartly in a 64-ball half-century but received no support. Adam Rossington mistimed a drive down the ground and was caught by Hain running round from long-on for just 13, Steven Crook rocked back to cut Jeetan Patel, missed and lost his off bail for just 2, two excellent run-outs were effected by Porterfield from backward point before Hannon-Dalby cleaned up the tail with two caught-and-bowled dismissals.