Match-winner Sanderson fuels Northants confidence

Ben Sanderson began his career with Yorkshire before dropping into Minor Counties cricket [Getty Images]

Seamer Ben Sanderson savoured a "perfect day" after his incredible spell led Northamptonshire to an innings win over Worcestershire.

Sanderson took 6-7 in the space of 29 balls at Wantage Road to finish with 7-31 and career-best match figures of 11-109.

It was Northants' first victory of the season - and indeed their first since beating Middlesex by four wickets in June 2025.

"It's probably one of my better spells - the ball change helped, the lights coming on, overcast conditions, but it felt beautiful coming out of my hand, " the 37-year-old told BBC Radio Northampton.

"Everything I tried seemed to work at the time and you need that bit of luck as well. We talk about banging away at the top of off (stump) and I can't do any more than that."

Sanderson made his Northants debut in 2016 and only needs five more wickets to reach 450 in first-class cricket.

He hopes the win over Worcestershire will be followed by more before the first block of Championship games comes to an end later this month.

"It was a perfect day, I don't think we could have done anything better," he said.

"We've dominated probably three games out of four and that victory's been coming for a while - it's much needed and well earned by everyone.

"The confidence just grows. With this win under our belts, if we keep playing how we are, we should get a couple more victories in this last little block (of games)."

Their next two matches are both away - against Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

Head coach Darren Lehmann said: "You need exceptional performances like Ben Sanderson's but our batters have gone to another level this year, which gives our bowlers more time to get 20 wickets."

Northants were 50-6 in the first innings of their opening game of the season against Lancashire but managed to hang on for a draw with their last-wicket pair at the crease.