Northants Steelbacks clinched the 2016 NatWest T20 Blast title by overcoming a terrible start to their run chase to beat Durham Jets by four wickets in a competitive final at Edgbaston.
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Finding themselves on 9-3, Cobb turned the match irrevocably in their favour with a fantastic 80 off just 48 balls, including ten fours and three sixes, as Northants reached their target with five deliveries to spare and add to their triumph from 2013.
Andre Russell, bidding to win two domestic Twenty20 titles in a matter of weeks after helping the Jamaica Tallawahs to Caribbean Premier League glory, made a rapid 39 off 18 balls, with three sixes and four fours, for Nottinghamshire. Under the captain, Alex Wakely, and the head coach, David Ripley – two men steeped in the club – they have forged a team spirit the envy of the shires, ensuring that every player knows his role intimately.
Beaten Durham captain Paul Collingwood believes his side were at a disadvantage playing the second semi-final, with several showers early in the day forcing a quick turnaround before the final. It proved to be a brief reprieve, however, as Wakely was run out next ball for 43.
Johannesburg-born Jennings, whose father Ray kept wicket for South Africa against “rebel” touring teams during the country’s years of apartheid-induced isolation from official worldwide cricket, faced just 58 balls including five fours and four sixes.
He started his innings like a man on a mission, and had hammered 18 from his first seven balls to take his side to 34 for one. He struck 10 fours and three sixes.
Ryan Pringle made two off seven balls before being brilliantly caught by a diving Josh Cobb at extra cover.
Jennings and Collingwood had put on 40 from 30 balls and were looking to press on when the County made another timely breakthrough, Collingwood slapping a ball off Sanderson straight down the throat of Crook on the square-leg boundary.
The partnership, which came off just 78 balls, all but secured the victory for the side and despite some late hiccups, Northamptonshire tasted success with four wickets in hand.
“We’ve managed to play pretty much the whole team all the way through the competition”.
Jennings holed out in Kleinveldt’s penultimate over to deep backward square-leg for 88 – the highest score ever made in the final of this competition – before Borthwick nicked behind later in the over. Hales was subsequently bowled for a duck while Stuart Broad, having his first T20 bowl of the campaign, sent down only two overs.
He and Ben Duckett hit half-centuries against Notts to lift the Steelbacks from 15 for three to 161 for eight – a score that proved eight too many for the Outlaws.
Chasing 154, Northants had a awful start to their innings, just as they did against Notts, as Rossington (2) nudged Wood to Borthwick at slip before the same fielder threw down the stumps to run out Richard Levi (2) off the very next ball in the second over.
Wakely smashed Arshad’s first delivery for six and was then handed a reprieve when he was on 43 a Paul Coughlin’s catch off him in the deep was judged to have touched the ground on review – but Wakely was then needlessly run out the very next ball!
Although he scored his runs off 58 balls, there was no slogging.
Crook came to the crease and was run out by Stokes as a minor panic set in, and somehow the game went down to the last over with the Steelbacks needing three to win.
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“There’s always stuff written about Northants that’s not great”, said Wakely. But Rob Keogh promptly hit Usman Arshad for four to spark celebrations just as rain started to fall.
