Warwickshire's woes contine

Kyle Coetzer's superb unbeaten half-century helped Northamptonshire to a comfortable win over Warwickshire to give them their second straight victory in the Friends Life t20.

Northamptonshire posted a solid 161 for 2 from their 20 overs with Scotland captain Coetzer continuing his fine run of form with 71 not out off 61 balls. Mohammad Azharullah then took 4 for 25 as Warwickshire fell short of their target with only Ateeq Javid providing resistance with 41 off 34 deliveries.

Northamptonshire won the toss and chose to bat and started in confident fashion in the sunny conditions as openers Richard Levi and Coetzer amassed 63 between them. South Africa international Levi clobbered 35 off 21 balls before he was taken at long on by Chris Woakes off the bowling of Javid.

Coetzer stuck around to go past 50 off 45 deliveries but Cameron White was to perish on 28 when he smashed New Zealand spinner Jeetan Patel to Keith Barker at deep midwicket.

Coetzer went on to go past his previous best T20 score of 64 as he and captain Alex Wakely, who swatted 24 off 17 balls batted out the final five overs of the hosts' innings.

Chasing 162, Warwickshire lost Darren Maddy in the fifth over after he plundered 15 when his off stump was taken out by Azharullah. Lee Daggett then bowled the Warwickshire captain Varun Chopra for 19 in the following over as the momentum shifted irrevocably Northamptonshire's way.

The visitors suffered another blow when Laurie Evans, who never got going in making six off 15 balls, saw his leg stump sent tumbling by Graeme White. Rikki Clarke was next to fall when he was well taken at deep extra cover by Coetzer to give Graeme White his second wicket as Warwickshire fell even further behind the required run-rate.

England bowler Chris Woakes made it to 23 off 17 balls before holing out by launching Azharullah to David Willey at long-on. Daggett's delivery clattered into Javid's middle stump before Azharullah bowled both Barker and Patel in the penultimate over as Warwickshire collapsed.