Strauss celebrates an excellent catch to dismiss Boje

Middlesex Crusaders secured promotion to Division One of the Pro40 League, beating Northamptonshire by six wickets in the play-off decider at Southgate.

Steven Finn and Chris Wright took three wickets each as the Crusaders bowled Northants out for 148 in 35.3 overs.

Skipper David Sales was the only one to offer any resistance in scoring 70.

Middlesex were reduced to 68-3, but rarely looked in trouble before Eoin Morgan and Nick Compton knocked off the runs with 22 balls to spare.

The Crusaders decided to bowl after winning the toss and soon had their visitors in trouble, with opener Rob White falling to the fifth ball of the innings for a duck.

It's been a pretty good season and I'm glad to get something out of it Ed Smith

A stand of 34 between Andrew Crook and Nicky Boje was broken in the 10th over when Finn snapped up the wicket of Boje thanks a brilliant one-handed catch from Andrew Strauss at gully.

The Steelbacks lost the wickets of Riki Wessels, Lance Klusener and Niall O'Brien in six balls without a run being added.

Sales helped push the score past 100 but was soon running out of partners and the innings was wrapped up in the 36th over when he was caught on the deep square boundary for 70 from 65 balls.

Middlesex lost captain Ed Smith in the sixth over for four but Ed Joyce (42), together with Strauss pushed the score on before they fell in quick succession.

Morgan (34 not out) and Jamie Dalrymple (23) shared a stand of 46 in 16 overs to steer them towards victory.

Dalrymple became the fourth man out, trapped leg before for 23, but Compton came in to help them over the line.

Middlesex captain Ed Smith said: "It was a great team performance that was started by an excellent bowling performance.

"We needed to win every game having lost three early ones.

"It's been a pretty good season and I'm glad to get something out of it. We're really optimistic about the future."