Weatherall and Keogh efforts not enough as Steelbacks IIs suffer T20 Finals Day disappointment

Taking on Warwickshire IIs, Northants looked to have the upper hand as they dismissed the Bears for 142 in 19.2 overs.

But despite getting off to a steady start in reply, the batters fell just short as the Steelbacks were agonisingly beaten by one run - Rob Keogh being run out by inches as he dived in to try and secure a tie.

The Northants team included a clutch of first team squad men, including George Bartlett, Louis Kimber, Raphy Weatherall and Gus Miller, but they couldn't get over the line.

With head coach Darren Lehmann and the bulk of the first team in attendance ahead of their trip to south Wales for the Blast clash against Glamorgan, the bowlers did a great job first up.

Fast bowler Weatherall was the pick of the bunch, taking three for 19 from 3.2 overs, while Miller claimed two for 26 and Kimber two for 17. There was also a wicket for left arm seamer Liam Guthrie.

For the Bears, Vansh Lalit Jani top scored with 40 from 19 balls, while Alex Davies hit 35 from 33.

The Steelbacks were in decent shape at 33 for one in reply in the powerplay, but a clatter of wickets left them 84 for seven - with Nathan Gilchrist doing the bulk of the damage, taking three for 17.

Keogh got stuck in alongside Guthrie to try and turn things round and they lifted the score to 125 before the Australian was dismissed for 24, leaving the Steelbacks needing 18 to win off the final 13 balls.

Keogh and Weatherall went into the last over needing 11 to win, and it was down to three to win off the final ball.

Keogh was then run out for 33 from 29 balls going for a second run, and it was the Bears who progressed to the final, where they would go on to beat Nottinghamshire by 27 runs to lift the trophy for the second year in a row.