A SENSIBLE batting display peppered with late pyrotechnics from Gareth Andrew helped Worcestershire Royals secure their first win in this season’s Friends Life t20.

The New Road side were indebted to a fine half-century from man-of-the-match Moeen Ali and a composed 44 from Alexei Kervezee before a 15-ball 21 from Andrew, including two big sixes, handed the County a seven-wicket success over Northamptonshire with two overs to spare.

Worcestershire made one change from their last-ball defeat at Yorkshire with Chris Whelan in for the injured and departing Damien Wright.

The Australian all-rounder heads home on Monday with Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal expected ahead of Wednesday’s trip to Derbyshire.

Before then, Worcestershire host Lancashire Lightning tomorrow (2.30pm) with England seamer James Anderson set to make his return to action for the visitors after picking up a side strain in the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Having been asked to bat first, Northants were reduced to 14-1 in the third over after ex-Worcestershire all-rounder Andrew Hall cut the economical Jack Shantry to Shakib Al Hasan at point having scored all the runs.

Shantry then removed another old County favourite, Chaminda Vaas, for a nine-ball one to leave the visitors on 30-2. Things got worse for the Steelbacks when David Sales limped off after pulling a hamstring.

Alex Wakely did his best to repair the early damage with a career-best 62 before becoming the last of Shakib’s three victims in the final over.

Northants managed to keep wickets in hand as they made slow progress at New Road.

But, from 87-2, the Steelbacks slumped to 134-9 at the close with Shakib dismissing Wakely, Jack Brooks and David Willey in his final over.

The biggest concern for the County in their chase was the weather. Had this been any other form of the game, Royals would have been unable to start their innings due to the rain and poor light.

But they managed to keep their noses in front of the Duckworth/Lewis system despite the early loss of Vikram Solanki for just six.

Moeen and Kervezee played sensibly, picking off the bad balls while resisting the urge to play rash shots.

The former reached his half-century off 45 balls with six fours before being stumped down the leg-side by David Murphy for 53 off Johan Botha.

Shakib was trapped lbw first ball but as the weather good better so did the County’s chances of claiming their first victory.

Kervezee continued to play with an old head on young shoulders, while Andrew gave good support as the Royals got home.