Cobb leads Northants to English Twenty20 Blast glory

Josh Cobb made a swashbuckling 80 to lead unfashionable Northamptonshire to a four-wicket victory over Durham in the Twenty20 Blast final in Birmingham on Saturday.

Captain Alex Wakely (right) and Josh Cobb hold the T20 Blast trophy after winning the final in Edgbaston.

Josh Cobb made a swashbuckling 80 to lead unfashionable Northamptonshire to a four-wicket victory over Durham in the Twenty20 Blast final in Birmingham on Saturday.

Durham scored 153 for eight from its 20 overs and reduced Northants to nine for three before Cobb hit three sixes and 10 fours off 48 balls to put his side on the brink of victory. Captain Alex Wakely also chipped in with a vital 43 off 39 deliveries and Northamptonshire reached its target with five balls to spare.

Northamptonshire, second bottom of county cricket's second division and beset by financial problems, also won the domestic Twenty20 title in 2013 and finished runner-up to Lancashire last season.

In the semifinal at Edgbaston earlier on Saturday, Northamptonshire beat Nottinghamshire by eight runs and England allrounder Ben Stokes struck 56 off 36 deliveries to inspire Durham to a seven-run victory over Yorkshire.