WORCESTERSHIRE recovered well to overcome Northamptonshire by 88 runs and register their first win in the Royal London One-Day Cup.

Skipper Daryl Mitchell’s side, who lost their opening match at home to Essex Eagles, were put into bat and were struggling at 84-4 in the 25th over in Milton Keynes.

But a fine partnership of 94 in 14 overs by Tom Fell and Ross Whiteley revived their fortunes and lower order contributions boosted their total to 274-9.

Mitchell McClenaghan and Joe Leach picked up two early wickets each to reduce Northants to 73-5 and effectively decide the contest.

Then Mitchell followed up his 5-28 against Northants in the NatWest T20 Blast 12 days ago by claiming four of the last five wickets. He finished with 4-19 from 6.2 overs as the home side were eventually bowled out for 186.

David Willey had Worcestershire opener Richard Oliver (14) caught behind and then Mitchell edged the same bowler to James Middlebrook at slip after making 16.

Middlebrook also held onto a chance offered by Alexei Kervezee (5) off Mohammad Azharullah and then entered the attack and accounted for Tom Kohler-Cadmore (9).

But it was from that point that Worcestershire’s fortunes took an upturn with Fell and Whiteley taking command.

Fell made 72 from 93 balls with one six and six fours as he transferred the promising form he has shown in the LV= County Championship into the one-day format.

Whiteley continued in the same vein as the big-hitting which brought him 84 not out with nine sixes against Derbyshire in the NatWest T20 Blast as he made 52 off 60 deliveries with three sixes and three fours.

Steven Crook removed the pair in quick succession but Ben Cox (18) and Leach (25) added 38 in 3.3 overs and then Shaaiq Choudhry, unbeaten on 30 from 18 balls, and Charlie Morris (16 not out) put together an unbeaten 32 in 4.1 overs for the last wicket.

McClenaghan trapped Richard Levi for a duck with the fifth ball of the Northants reply. Adam Rossington (7) went for a big drive at Leach and was caught behind by Cox.

It became 18-3 in the next over when Morris bowled Kyle Coetzer (6) and then McClenaghan trapped Matt Spriegel (1) lbw. Leach broke through again when Crook (23) pulled a delivery to Choudhry at mid-wicket.

Mitchell then got in on the act by dismissing Willey after his run-a-ball 29.

Ben Duckett (49) was bowled by Choudhry and then Mitchell wrapped up the innings.

Graeme White (0) holed out to Leach at long-on, Middlebrook (18) was well stumped by Cox and then Olly Stone (21) perished to a fine catch by Kervezee to seal victory.