138/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.90
145/9 (20.0)
CR : 7.25
Northamptonshire won by 7 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Ben Sanderson
2/269(5)*
19.4
W
James Sales to Will Rhodes
OUT! The decibel levels fall to the floor once again. 11 runs still needed off 2 balls but Rhodes has to go. Sales went full, in the channel outside off, from over the wicket. As per his plan the batter could not get under it and find the elevation. He hit it straight to Willey at mid-off who took a good low catch.
W Rhodes 31(33)
c D Willey b J Sales
4s/6s
1/0
SR
93.94
Nathan Sowter comes in to bat now. Can he score 2 biggies to take his side over the line?
19.5
2
James Sales to Nathan Sowter
Off-pace ball that takes an age to come to Sowter. On a length, at the leg stick. He heaves it to deep midwicket and comes haring back for the second run. 9 runs required off 1 ball now. No no-balls or wides needed now.
19.6
1
James Sales to Nathan Sowter
LOFTED... falls short of long-on. All Sowter can get is a single. James Sales, the leading wicket-taker of the Men's T20 Blast 2026, in a slightly different role today, has delivered the goods for Northamptonshire Steelbacks. He concedes only 6 off the final over. 2/10 off 2 overs in total. His team has won this game by 7 runs — and they remain undefeated in the competition. Durham succumb to their third loss on a bounce. This was banged in at a hard length, in line with the stumps. Sowter backed away and clubbed it, but could not find the distance.
Over 20
Durham 138/8
James Minto9(8)
Nathan Sowter3(2)
James Sales2-10(2.0)
NOR won by 7 runs
2.20 AM IST, 9.50 PM Local Time: Northamptonshire win by 7 runs & remain unbeaten in this campaign. They have won 5 in 5 so far this season and look in tremendous form.
Durham's chase of 146 never truly gathered momentum despite the required rate staying well within reach throughout the innings. Ben McKinney provided some early impetus with a lively 33 off 19 balls, while Colin Ackermann contributed 22, but the hosts struggled to build partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals. From 41/1, Durham slipped to 41/3 and were eventually reduced to 91/6, leaving the lower order with too much to do on a demanding surface. Will Rhodes achored the fightback with a composed knock of 31 runs, but could not find much support from the other end after Ben Raine departed.
Northamptonshire's bowlers once again showcased why they remain unbeaten this season. Ben Sanderson (2/26) and David Willey (1/31) set the tone early, but it was young James Sales (2/10) who delivered when it mattered most. Entrusted with two overs in the final five, Sales claimed two massive wickets and then held his nerve brilliantly in the last over, defending 13 runs to seal a hard-fought victory. On a surface where every run had to be earned, Northamptonshire held their composure under pressure to preserve their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Earlier in the innings, Norhamptonshire battled their way to 145/9 on a sluggish track, with Justin Broad top-scoring with 36 runs, and received support from David Willey and Said Zaib. On the other hand, Callum Parkinson starred with the ball, returning outstanding figures of 3/19, with Ben Raine and Kasey Aldridge picking up two wickets apiece. While the total appeared slight below par, the conditions ensured that Durham would have to work hard for every run.
Durham's chase of 146 never truly gathered momentum despite the required rate staying well within reach throughout the innings. Ben McKinney provided some early impetus with a lively 33 off 19 balls, while Colin Ackermann contributed 22, but the hosts struggled to build partnerships as wickets fell at regular intervals. From 41/1, Durham slipped to 41/3 and were eventually reduced to 91/6, leaving the lower order with too much to do on a demanding surface. Will Rhodes achored the fightback with a composed knock of 31 runs, but could not find much support from the other end after Ben Raine departed.
Northamptonshire's bowlers once again showcased why they remain unbeaten this season. Ben Sanderson (2/26) and David Willey (1/31) set the tone early, but it was young James Sales (2/10) who delivered when it mattered most. Entrusted with two overs in the final five, Sales claimed two massive wickets and then held his nerve brilliantly in the last over, defending 13 runs to seal a hard-fought victory. On a surface where every run had to be earned, Northamptonshire held their composure under pressure to preserve their unbeaten start to the campaign.
Earlier in the innings, Norhamptonshire battled their way to 145/9 on a sluggish track, with Justin Broad top-scoring with 36 runs, and received support from David Willey and Said Zaib. On the other hand, Callum Parkinson starred with the ball, returning outstanding figures of 3/19, with Ben Raine and Kasey Aldridge picking up two wickets apiece. While the total appeared slight below par, the conditions ensured that Durham would have to work hard for every run.
Player of the Match: Ben Sanderson
That's it from this game! Northamptonshire walk away with four more points and continue their unbeaten march at the top of the table. Durham will be left wondering what might have been after staying in the hunt deep into the chase, but they'll have little time to dwell on this defeat as they look to bounce back in their next outing.
That's all from us here. On behalf of the scorer/ analyst Manish Bishnoi, and my fellow commentator Darpan Tikiya, this is Omkar Iyer signing off. Until next time, take care and goodbye!
That's all from us here. On behalf of the scorer/ analyst Manish Bishnoi, and my fellow commentator Darpan Tikiya, this is Omkar Iyer signing off. Until next time, take care and goodbye!