Mohammad Azharullah bowled a frugal final over to guide the Northants Steelbacks to a three-run victory by the Duckworth-Lewis method in their T20 Blast match against the Derbyshire Falcons.
The Steelbacks got off to a quick start in their innings as openers Richard Levi and Josh Cobb found the boundary with regularity.
The visitors raced past the 50-run mark as both players looked in imperious form at the crease, while the Falcons bowlers failed to get anything out of the pitch.
Levi was the first to depart as he fell lbw to Shiv Thakor for 42 when he tried to heave a shot across the line, ending the opening the partnership at 86 runs. Cobb lasted another over before he was also caught lbw to Will Durston for 48, in an innings which included three sixes.
Alex Hughes stalled the Northamptonshire innings when he snagged the quick wickets of Ben Duckett and Alex Wakeley to dent the home side's hopes of a commanding total.
Wayne White then added the scalps of Adam Rossington and Rory Kleinveldt for ducks to put the Falcons in command, but Steven Crook and Rob Keogh mounted a late charge to fire the Steelbacks to 155-8 off their 20 overs.
Rain fell during the intermission which saw the Derbyshire reply reduced to 18 overs and moved the target down to 144.
Durston and Hamish Rutherford powered the Falcons to a rapid start as they raced past the 50-run mark in just the sixth over.
Rutherford was the first to depart for 20 as he was caught by Cobb off the bowling of Graeme White, while Chesney Hughes fell first ball to the bowling of Cobb.
Durston ensured that Derbyshire kept up with the run-rate, but his departure put them in trouble at 102-4 with six overs remaining in the innings.
Tom Poynton and Scott Elstone rallied the innings to leave the Falcons needing nine off the final over for victory.
However, Azharullah held his nerve for the Steelbacks in the final over to guide his side to a three-run win.
Simon Sinclair
