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ANDREW Hall came back to haunt his former county last night as he helped Northamptonshire Steelbacks to a 33-run victory over Worcestershire Royals.

The former New Road overseas player recorded English cricket's best-ever Twenty20 bowling figures with 6-21 in just 3.4 overs.

But it wasn't just his bowling that helped the South African steal the show, he also hit an unbeaten 66.

The Royals reigned supreme on Thursday night against Gloucestershire Gladiators, but were unceremoniously knocked off their pedestal at Northampton.

But things had started well for Worcestershire.

Skipper Vikram Solanki won the toss and put the Steelbacks in and Kabir Ali opened with a wicket-maiden, while Steve Magoffin's first over went for just four, but it was downhill from that point.

Kabir's second over went for 17, but the County's main strike bowler wasn't the only seamer to get thrashed around the County Ground.

Chris Whelan, expensive on Thursday but managing to take a couple of wickets, went home wicketless this time after going for an astronomical 45 from three overs.

Gareth Andrew and Daryl Mitchell were once again the pick of the Royals' attack, conceding just 46 runs between them in eight overs and picking up two and one wickets respectively.

If the other bowlers could have backed them up, then Worcestershire would not have had to chase 183.

On Thursday they reached their 169 target with ease, but the extra 14 runs proved too much of a hurdle.

Graeme Hick, majestic ag-ainst Gloucestershire, fell in the third over without scoring having only faced four balls agaisnt the impressive Johannes van der Wath who finished with 4-1-14-1.

Solanki went three overs later as the Hall-David Sales combination began to blossom. They took four wickets, with Sales hands looking safe as houses as he also caught Moeen in the 13th over for 22 off Steve Crook.

Worcestershire were never up with the required run-rate, Smith and Moeen spent far too long scoring ones and twos and the County were always chasing mission impossible.

Moore had a good thrash when he came to the crease but by then it was all but over.

This, too, against a side that included Monty Panesar to make up the numbers. The England spinner only bowled one over and his fielding was typical Monty.

But this was Hall's night and the Royals will need to douse the Dragons' fire at Sophia Gardens tomorrow if they are to get their Twenty20 Cup campaign back on track.

8:55pm Friday 13th June 2008

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