Willey blasts Northants to second win

David Willey's explosive 95 off just 45 balls lifted Northamptonshire to a two-wicket win over Leicestershire in their rain-reduced NatWest T20 Blast encounter at Wantage Road.

Willey is fast gaining a reputation as one of the hottest properties in the shortest format and his bombastic innings on Friday helped the defending champions edge to their second victory from two games in a match that was reduced to 18 overs per side due to rain.

Half-centuries from Josh Cobb and Greg Smith helped Leicestershire to 176 for 4 after they were invited to bat, but Willey laid the platform for the lower order to edge over the line with two balls to spare.

Willey, who was key to Northants' win in the final last year, has been unable to bowl this season because of an ongoing back injury, but as opening batsman he was nigh-on unstoppable against the Foxes.

Richard Levi got Northants' chase off to a strong start by taking 14 off Buck in the second over, although the bowler would have the last laugh when he bowled Levi for 17.

Levi's opening partner Willey thumped the first of his six sixes in the next over and appeared to be thoroughly enjoying his task when he took two maximums in three balls off Anthony Ireland.

He did enjoy a bit of luck on 44 when Scott Styris and substitute fielder Matt Boyce left it to each other to take a catch, with neither doing so. It proved a costly let-off as Willey kept motoring on, despite the dismissals of Kyle Coetzer, Rob Newton and Steven Crook, easily overtaking his previous highest T20 score of 60.

He appeared on course for a maiden T20 century but fell five runs short when he skied Ireland to Ned Eckersley.

Northants still required 30 off 24 balls, but their lower order saw them squeeze home, with Graeme White hammering Rob Taylor for four.

Leicestershire captain Cobb had appeared to put his side in a commanding position with an excellent 70 off 45 balls, while he was ably supported by Smith's 56 off 37 deliveries in a partnership of 113 for the second wicket. Styris took 19 runs off the final over in a fantastic cameo, but it proved to be in vain.