Ackerman downs Northants

Hylton Ackerman blasted 139 as his side beat Northamptonshire © Getty Images

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Hylton Ackerman hit a one-day career best 139 as Leicestershire snatched victory over Northamptonshire by just seven runs - confirming their position at the summit of the Midlands table.

The 35-year-old South African – one of 11 Proteas taking part - hit 17 fours off 150 deliveries as he guided the Foxes to 268 for six in glorious batting conditions at the County Ground.

In reply the Steelbacks reached 261 for eight but were unable to recover from losing four of their five opening batsman for single figure scores.

Leicestershire, who won the toss, scored just seven runs from the opening five overs but Ackerman soon found his touch, smashing four fours in one Lance Klusener over.

But fellow opener Tom New (17) glanced Johann Louw’s first delivery straight to Ireland wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien in the 11th over.

James Allenby joined Ackerman at the crease, who continued his recent blistering form reaching his half-century of just 60 balls clubbing eight fours in the process.

They put on 62 before Boje brought himself into the attack and duly dismissed Allenby (21) – stumped by O’Brien - to leave the visitors 121 for two after 25 overs.

Monty Panesar struggled for rhythm, bowling just four overs with no wicket for 21, as the England spinner could not tie Ackerman down.

He reached 98 with a thunderous pull shot and notched his second century of the season in the 37th over.

Boeta Dippenaar added a watchful 23 before chipping Jason Brown to mid-wicket and Foxes captain, Paul Nixon contributed 15 before hooking Johan van der Wath to deep square-leg.

But Ackerman raced to 136, the highest score by a Leicestershire batsman at Northants in this competition - eventually succumbing to van der Wath as he looked to clear the long-on boundary.

Jacques du Toit smashed 18 before Andrew Hall picked up his first wicket in Steelbacks colours as South African duo Claude Henderson (10no) and Dillon du Preez (nine not out) steered the Foxes to 268 for six from their 50 overs.

O’Brien flew out of the blocks plundering 31 runs from just 24 balls but partners came and went for the wicketkeeper-batsman as Ryan Cummins dismissed both Stephen Peters (one) and Andrew Hall (six) with an excellent spell.

David Sales has a habit of making big totals or falling cheaply and this time it was the latter – edging Nadeem Malik to ex-England wicketkeeper Paul Nixon for one.

And Rob White was back in the pavilion after edging the Foxes leading wicket-taker Garnett Kruger to Nixon leaving Northants in trouble at 64 for four.

Skipper Boje joined O’Brien at the crease and made 19 before the South African all-rounder was stumped – cramped for room by left-arm spinner Henderson.

Big-hitter Lance Klusener (42) showed great discipline as he and O’Brien steaded the ship putting on 76 before O’Brien (95) fell to Malik five short of his maiden one-day century.

The Irishman notched his highest ever one-day score before Cummins took an outstanding catch on the mid-wicket boundary.

Van der Wath came to the middle and raced to 23 off just 18 deliveries crashing Malik for two consecutive fours to leave the Steelbacks requiring 66 from the final 48 balls.

But he was controversially given out lbw to his fellow countryman Henderson and Klusener fell to Kruger for his seventh wicket of the competition.

The Northants faithful were treated to some big-hitting from Louw (35 no) and Panesar who crashed 17 from 12 balls, but requiring 20 from the last over the Steelbacks fell just short.