Northamptonshire were able to shrug off the challenge of the county's own Board XI by nine wickets at Wantage Road, despite a magnificent century from Academy batsman David Paynter.

The 20-year-old great-grandson of 1930s England stalwart Eddie Paynter cracked 17 fours in his 104 off 106 balls, posting 159 for the first wicket with his opening partner Tim Coleman (68).

But although the Board team's total of 277-6 exceeded all expectations, it was not enough as the full-timers breezed to their target at 278-1 with 8.4 overs to spare thanks to man-of-the-match Mal Loye's unbeaten 124 from 122 balls.

Paynter, Cornish-born but Yorkshire-raised, laid into the county attack with relish at the start, and received excellent support from Coleman who scores heavily in the Northants Championship league for Finedon Dolben.

Even with the openers gone, the Board XI pressed on purposefully thanks to David Roberts – released by Northants midway through last summer – who thrashed 40 off 27 balls, and another Academy batsman Jamie Wade (38).

But the Board's bowlers then struggled in vain to restrict Loye and Mike Hussey (59), the pair picking off runs easily on their way to a stand of 125 in 20 overs.

Hussey holed out off Martyn Dobson before Loye, who hit a six and 15 fours, and Russell Warren (70 not out) made the match safe by adding an unbroken 153 for the second wicket – a new Northants record in the 38-year history of the competition.

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