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Slater's best effort in vain

Northants (187-6) bt Derbys (180) by 7 runs

Michael Slater's 59 from 100 balls - his best score in 11 limited overs starts this season - brought some life to an otherwise typically anaemic, seam-strangled contest on a begrudging pitch but failed to prevent Northamptonshire from extending their unbeaten one-day run to eight games.

Slater was superbly held at the fourth attempt from a top-edged cut by a juggling David Ripley, standing up to Kevin Innes's medium pace. His departure, at 123 for five, left 65 to be made at 4.88 per over.

But with Innes, 23, continuing to his best figures (four for 37) in all cricket to date, Derbyshire - needing eight to win from the last two balls - were bowled out when Paul Aldred was called for a bye to Ripley, who kept his head and ran him out.

The visitors were equally indebted to Tony Penberthy, arguably the National League's premier all-rounder so far with 17 wickets at 16.76, to complement a batting average of 50.6.

Though Northants were profligate enough to donate a dozen wides in their opening 16 overs, Penberthy claimed Derbyshire's first three wickets and denied any early momentum.

Northants struggled as hard earlier to get the seamers away, but with a series of modest contributions established a winning score.