A magnificent century partnership by inform Northants duo Mal Loye (70) and Mike Hussey (96) gave the Steelbacks a rare victory in their NUL bottom of the table clash against Surrey at Guildford.

Northants move up from the foot of division one, thanks to their easy eight-wicket win. Surrey remain relegation favourites.

Defending a modest 195 all out, the Lions reduced the away team to 6-2 in the fourth over, before the vital third wicket stand.

Characterised by careful placement and daring running between the wickets, Loye and Hussey eventually reached an unbroken 170 in their third century stand of the season.

Hussey reached his third NUL half-century in 49 balls with a seventh boundary in an Adam Hollioake over that cost 14 runs.

Loye passed 50 in 55 balls in the over after his left-handed partner, with a pulled six off Alex Tudor, and four fours. Only a Loye edge when on 33, that fell just short of Martin Bicknell at slip, threatened to split the pair.

Bicknell celebrated his daughter's fifth birthday with seven over, two for 15, but the support bowlers rarely troubled Hussey and Loye.

The players were forced off by drizzle for five overs, leaving a revised target of 176 off 37 overs.

A clipped six by Hussey, that landed in Woodbridge Road, took the Steelbacks to within two of victory, which was achieved with 6.4 overs to spare.

Hussey told CricInfo: "Me and Mal quite enjoy batting together. We push each other along."

The record partnership in the competition between the sides remains Lamb and Larkins' 176 for the second wicket, also at Guildford, in 1985.

Western Australian Hussey concluded: "The feeling was great. We were very relieved as we're in need of a few wins."

Earlier Hollioake has set up his team with a 52-ball first one-day half-century of the season.

On a hazy afternoon, Surrey, missing Ben Hollioake (wrist) and Ali Brown (thumb) as well as five English batsmen, were guided to 185-6 in 39 overs by the strokeplay of the elder Hollioake. He figured in stands of 43 with well organised debutant Joe Porter and 40 with big-hitting Alex Tudor.

Then Mike Strong found his line and clean-bowled three Lions in seven balls. This gives the 27-year-old 11 wickets in his last three NUL appearances.

Northants had Paul Taylor, who bowled straight through to take 2-28, to thank for restricting Surrey early on.

© CricInfo