Scott Currie’s first-class century couldn’t save Leicestershire from a heavy defeat, as Northamptonshire claimed a nine-wicket victory at Wantage Road in the Vitality County Championship. The win marked Northamptonshire's second consecutive first-class victory, their first back-to-back wins in five years.
Resuming on 69-4 and trailing by 111, Leicestershire collapsed early, losing three wickets to fall to 92-7. Currie, however, stepped in as nightwatchman and, alongside Tom Scriven, turned the tide. Scriven’s aggressive 48 off 66 balls led a partnership of 101 with Currie, while Sam Wood added a brisk 57 in a stand of 110. Currie’s resistance ended after more than four hours at the crease, having scored 120 from 192 balls with 15 boundaries and two sixes.
Despite Leicestershire's fightback, Northamptonshire were left with a modest target of 137. Although they lost an early wicket, George Bartlett (54) and captain Luke Procter (68) saw the hosts home comfortably, securing the win with a 120-run partnership.
Yuzvendra Chahal once again shone with the ball for Northamptonshire, taking 5-134, following up his first-innings haul of 4-82. Meanwhile, Ben Sanderson celebrated his 400th career first-class wicket during Leicestershire’s second innings.
The day began with Leicestershire losing captain Lewis Hill for 14 as Chahal produced a spinning delivery that beat Hill’s edge, with keeper Lewis McManus completing the stumping. Ben Cox soon followed, trapped lbw by Sanderson, while Liam Trevaskis was dismissed for 2, caught sharply at short leg off Chahal.
Currie remained solid at the other end, initially playing a cautious knock. However, Scriven's attacking approach breathed life into the innings, hitting Chahal for boundaries and pulling Sanderson for four. Together, they brought Leicestershire’s score to 100 in the 58th over.
After Scriven's aggressive knock, Currie took charge, launching a counter-attack that included boundaries off Chahal and Broad. His century came from 159 balls, but Chahal eventually had him caught behind to claim his fifth wicket of the innings.
Leicestershire’s resistance ended with a total of 316, setting Northamptonshire 137 to win. Northamptonshire began their chase cautiously, losing Gus Miller early for 11. However, Procter and Bartlett made light work of the remaining runs, with both batsmen hitting a six and seven boundaries each to lead their side to victory.
Northamptonshire’s comprehensive win earned them back-to-back victories, while Currie’s valiant century stood out in a losing cause for Leicestershire.