WORCESTERSHIRE Rapids all-rounder Joe Leach took a hat-trick from the first three balls of the match but finished on the losing side as Northamptonshire Steelbacks edged home by 21 runs in the Royal London One-Day Cup at New Road.

In a gripping, low-scoring game, Northamptonshire reached a creditable 126 and carried on their recovery with Mohammad Azharullah taking 4-22 as Worcestershire were dismissed for 105 in the 32nd over.

Leach’s feat is not unique in modern times. In 2003 Sri Lanka’s Chaminda Vaas — who played county cricket for Worcestershire — began a World Cup match with three wickets in three balls against Bangladesh in South Africa.

The parade of ducks at the top of the Northants order was followed by another unusual event as play was held up for a few minutes when a low-flying swan made at least half-a-dozen circuits of the playing area.

After such a bad start, Northamptonshire staggered into further trouble, losing three wickets to Jack Shantry and crashed to 19-6 before the lower order — starting with Rory Kleinveldt’s 33 from 39 balls — kept them in the contest.

Leach’s first two wickets came from new-ball seam movement as Richard Levi and Rob Keogh edged to wicketkeeper Ben Cox and Ben Duckett was third out when steering a shorter delivery to Shantry at gully.

The 24-year-old seam bowler came back to end Josh Cobb’s stubborn resistance, the opener edging to slip after making 31 out of 99 by the 27th over. Leach (4-30) and Shantry (4-29) both returned personal-best figures in oneday competitions.

With the pitch providing some disconcerting bounce, the game could easily have been over by lunch but for a let-off for Kleinveldt when he had made only eight. If Tom Fell had held a low chance at third slip off Shantry, Northants would have been 27-7.

The South African clouted seven fours in a partnership of 50 in 12.2 overs with Cobb.

Graeme White (27) and Olly Stone (12 not out) scrambled decisive runs.

Although Worcestershire avoided a calamitous start, wickets soon began to fall. At 48-6, when Daryl Mitchell was caught off Azharullah for 18 in the 22nd over, the Rapids were in as much trouble as the Steelbacks had been.

Leach took centre stage again, making 21 with five fours until top-edging to third man, but wickets continued to tumble.

The innings and a brave effort by Cox ended when the keeper skied Kleinveldt to deep cover after making 36, the top score of the day.