Maddy leads thrilling chase

Darren Maddy's 130 from 167 balls set the tone for a brilliant chase by Warwickshire

Darren Maddy and Ian Salisbury scripted a thrilling finale as Warwickshire chased down a record score of 383 to beat Northamptonshire at Wantage Road.

Warwickshire made their third-highest fourth innings total to win, and highest against Northants, to secure victory off the penultimate ball as Ian Salisbury lofted Nicky Boje for six.

Boje, captaining Northants in the LV County Championship for the first time, declared on 240 for seven before lunch, leaving the visitors an improbable 383 to win.

But Maddy, whose last three championship innings added up to just 19, chose the perfect occasion to return to form with a brilliant 130 off 167 balls, and a partnership of 103 with Jonathan Trott (48).

Warwickshire were dealt an early blow in their chase.

After racing to 44 without loss, Ian Westwood could only equal his first innings score of 11, guiding Northants seamer David Wigley straight to David Sales.

However Maddy took full advantage of Monty Panesar’s below-par performance, dispatching the left-arm spinner for three straight fours in the 24th over.

Boje attempted to frustrate Maddy and Ian Bell by packing the off-side as Warwickshire cruised to 153 for one, 229 runs short of their target.

And it paid dividends when Bell top-edged the South African all-rounder to Stephen Peters shortly after making 62, his first half-century of the season.

Jonathan Trott made 48 in a crucial stand of 103 with Darren Maddy © Getty Images

But former England international Maddy put his early season batting woes behind him, easing to his century off Lance Klusener.

However the 33-year-old was quickly dismissed after tea, sweeping Panesar straight to Alex Wakely at short mid-wicket for his first wicket of the innings.

Trott fell to Panesar in similar fashion before Mike Powell and Tim Ambrose took the visitors to 301 but both fell in quick succession as the hosts slumped to 313 for six.

Wicketkeeper Riki Wessels showed quick hands to stump Powell for 21 before Panesar cleaned up England team-mate Ambrose (19).

Neil Carter hit a quick 27 before being run out and Ant Botha (29) also fell late on to Panesar as Warwickshire wobbled with the target in sight at 374 for eight.

But as the game passed 6pm, one more over was allotted and Monde Zondeki, with a first-class average of just over nine but a Test match fifty against England, was at the crease with Salisbury.

But Salisbury settled the nerves, dispatching Boje for six off the fifth ball of the over.

It was a tough denouement for Boje, whose earlier enterprise had ensured that there would be a contest.

Northants has resumed with a lead of 312. South African seamer Zondeki dismissed former team-mate Klusener for 24 before skipper Boje (19) fell to Salisbury.

Wessels notched 52 before skying Zondeki straight to former Warwickshire skipper Mike Powell as the hosts fell to 240 for seven.

Even then, Northants must have thought that sufficient.