Sanderson put Northants well on their way to restricting Warwickshire to below their target in the fourth innings at Edgbaston after Northants’ second innings declaration. Warwickshire had already lost an early wicket after Kraigg Brathwaite was bowled by Jack White in the second over.

At 19-1 and in the seventh over of the innings, Sanderson got into the act in some style. He nicked off Will Rhodes with a ball that just held its line, giving a straight forward catch to Karun Nair at first slip. Sam Hain came out to the middle next only to lose his off stump first delivery.

Sanderson got the ball to straight off the surface and Hain could do little about it sneaking past his edge and taking out the stumps. Sanderson wheeled away, arms outstretched with Rob Yates at the other end waiting for his third partner in the over.

Dan Mousley was the next player in to face up to the hat-trick ball. Sanderson bowled a wider line this time, angling in and managing to find the outside edge once again. Rhodes got a thick edge and Tom Taylor took a straightforward low catch at fourth slip.

Sanderson’s is the 19th first class hat-trick for Northants and the first since Andrew Hall in 2010. He struck again three overs later, dismissing Yates for just six and ensuring all of Warwickshire’s top five failed to reach double figures. It may turn out to be a contribution crucial to Northants’ season; they started the latest round of fixtures rooted to the bottom of the Division One table.

Watch: Sanderson takes a hat-trick

What a bowler. 🤩

Ben Sanderson completes his opening spell with figures of 4 for 21 from 10 overs. 👏pic.twitter.com/kinSuEGtbE

— Northamptonshire CCC (@NorthantsCCC) September 13, 2023