Northamptonshire boosted their promotion hopes by romping to a convincing six-wicket win over Worcestershire at New Road, wrapping up a comprehensive victory inside three days.

Yuzvendra Chahal returned the standout figures of 4 for 46 as Northants ran through the Pears for just 182, whose only defence came through captain Brett D’Oliveira‘s valiant 64. Chasing 94 to win, Northants eased to their target with six wickets in hand, despite three consolation wickets from Usama Mir.

The win keeps Northants well in the hunt for promotion back to Division One, edging in front of nearest rivals Kent – at least for the time being – with two rounds of action remaining.

D’Oliveira and Adam Hose made a defiant start in the sunshine at New Road, taking the hosts within one run of parity in a cagey opening hour, but their resolve was undone by Luke Procter who caught the edge of Hose for 18.

That wicket was the catalyst for Northants, who took charge of the remainder of the morning session at New Road with two wickets in quick succession.

The evergreen Ben Sanderson celebrated a 50th Division Two wicket of the summer when he benefited from a loose Henry Cullen drive, with a thick edge racing to Calvin Harrison at slip, before Chahal trapped Mathew Waite (5) LBW.

Worcestershire’s captain D’Oliveira rallied and made a second half century in as many matches from 130 balls, holding out with the hosts reaching lunch 136 for 6, ahead by just 47 runs.

In match dominated by seamers, it was Northants’ overseas spinner Chahal who made the telling breakthrough an hour into the afternoon session, ending D’Oliveira’s riposte for 64 courtesy of a smart catch by substitute keeper Stuart van der Merwe.

Procter (2 for 32) claimed a seventh of the match when he accounted for Ben Allison cheaply, before Chahal returned to dismiss Mir as Worcestershire crumbled. Chahal completed a clinical display with the ball by pinning Adam Finch LBW to finish with 4-46 and to dismiss Worcestershire for just 182.

Chasing 94 to win, Northants lost both openers in quick succession after the tea interval, as Procter (21) and Vasconcelos (22) made brisk contributions but fell to Mir and Adam Finch. Mir snared Saif Zaib and Harrison, but George Bartlett’s 19 not out eased the visitors home shortly after 4.30pm.