Northants cling on to precious Vaas

Chaminda Vaas, who proved an all-round hit in the Friends Provident t20, will play for Northants in all competitions next season

Northamptonshire have retained Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas for next season, when he will be available in all formats of the game.

Vaas signed for Northants in May, primarily for the Friends Provident t20 although he made two LV= County Championship appearances.

The 36-year-old is his country’s all-time leading seam bowler but proved an effective top order pinch-hitter for Northants, helping make him the FP t20’s most valuable player.

In that competition Vaas scored 459 runs, including four half-centuries, and took 17 wickets as Northants reached the t20 quarter-finals for the third successive year.

His best performance saw the left-hander hit 73 from 49 balls and then claim 3-23 in the win over Durham Dynamos.

Northants head coach David Capel said: “Chaminda made an excellent contribution for Northants Cricket during 2010 and it will be great to have his all-round services to call upon on a more regular basis throughout the 2011 season.

Chief executive Mark Tagg added: “Experience and quality are essential elements of a successful team and Chaminda brings both in abundance.

“The younger players especially will get real value from Chaminda and the club will continue to move forward with him in the side."