Worcestershire's Leach claims rapid hat-trick

Joe Leach claimed a hat-trick for Worcestershire with the first three balls of their Royal London One-Day Cup match at home to Northamptonshire on Sunday.

The 24-year-old bowler had Northants opener Richard Levi caught by wicketkeeper Ben Cox and repeated the trick to remove number three batsman Rob Keogh.

Leach completed his hat-trick when Ben Duckett was caught by Jack Shantry to leave the New Road visitors stunned.

He later took the wicket of Josh Cobb, finishing with a useful four for 30 from his 10 overs as the visitors rallied from their early triple setback to reach 126 all out from 35.1 overs. Rory Kleinveldt top-scored for them with 33.

In reply, Worcestershire were struggling on 69 for six in the 24th over, Mohammad Azharullah taking four wickets for the loss of just 21.