Discarded India spinner follows nine-wicket haul with four-for to boost county's promotion hopes

Chahal's Match-Haul Magic Keeps Northants' Promotion Dream Alive

Kya baat hai! Yuzvendra Chahal is on another planet right now. Fresh off that nine-wicket blitz against Durham, the legspinner struck again—this time a five-wicket match haul against Worcestershire—to keep Northamptonshire's Division Two promotion hopes breathing.

Here's the recipe, and it's a good one. Worcs came into their second innings trailing by 89, and Northants opener Harry Conway opened the blood early, clean-bowling the top three for just 34. Adam Hose and Brett D'Oliveira tried to fight back with a 54-run stand, but Chahal—dropped in as the fifth bowler—finished the job in style, trapping Matthew Waite on a near-yorker and then dismantling a well-set D'Oliveira for 64. One over later, he had Usama Mir caught at silly midoff and Adam Finch LBW. Worcs bowled out, and Northants set just 94 to win.

The visitors chased it down comfortably in a little over 25 overs, six wickets in hand.

Earlier, Worcs posted 200 with fifties from Jake Libby (55) and Henry Cullen (64), while Luke Procter grabbed his fifth first-class five-for. Northants answered with 289, powered by Saif Zaib's composed 110.

Points table: Northants sit second in Division Two with 175—just two clear of third-placed Kent. Worcs land fifth on 133 with two games left. The promotion race? Still anyone's game. 🏏

Source: Wisden