FRIENDS PROVIDENT t20, Emirates Ground
Northants 133-3 (17.5 ovs) beat Durham 129-5 (20 ovs) by seven wickets
Match scorecard

Rob White hit his second half-century in this season's T20

Northants secured the fourth quarter-final place from the North Group of the FP t20 with a seven-wicket win over Durham at Chester-le-Street.

Durham were restricted to 129-5 with Mark Stoneman and Albie Morkel both scoring 35 and Andrew Hall taking 2-26.

Northants, who will travel to South Group winners Somerset in the last eight, won with 13 balls remaining.

Opener Rob White (63) smashed two sixes in his 49-ball knock, while Alex Wakely chipped in 35 from 29 balls.

The home side looked set to win by an even bigger margin, but lost Wakely and White within three balls of each other with score on 121.

The latter fell to Gareth Breese, who enjoyed the rarity of delivering a Twenty20 wicket maiden.

Earlier, Morkel hit Durham's only six as 13 came off the final over bowled by Hall.

Northants head coach David Capel told BBC Radio Northampton:
"We have been playing some very good cricket over the past month or two. Credit goes to the lads, there.

"I really like our style at the moment - it's very confident and enjoyable cricket.

"Self-belief levels are going higher and higher and we're working hard for each other."

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson:
"No doubt many questions will be asked at boardroom level as to why the side has under-performed so much this year, despite investment in all-rounder Albie Morkel and Kiwi batsman Ross Taylor.

"Taylor left after nine game and still finished the leading run-maker with 315. Morkel, often coming in late to chase lost causes, scored 272 at an average of 34 and was the second best batsman.

"Big things had been hoped from Durham this year but in the space of just six weeks they appear to have gone backwards massively, serving up the sort of no-hope performances that regularly blighted them a few years ago in the T20."

BBC Radio Northampton's Richard Savage:
"This was the first time Northants had chased down a target and won in this year's T20 competition, and that they did it with such ease should fill them with confidence for the knockout stages.

"They have peaked at just the right time and despite finishing in fourth in their group they shouldn't be taken lightly by their next opponents Somerset.

"The two teams know each other well from their old regional group encounters and Northants should have nothing to fear on this form."

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