Northants Steelbacks booked their place at the NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day for a third time with a seven-wicket victory over Sussex Sharks this evening.
David Willey starred with the bat and the ball as Sussex failed to make their home advantage count.
The visitors, who won the toss and put the Sharks into bat, struck in the second over when Olly Stone caught the hosts' captain Luke Wright off the bowling of Willey for zero.
Mahela Jayawardene steadied the ship with a commanding 50 from 30 balls on his return to the Sussex side, but fell to a spectacular diving catch from Josh Cobb two balls later.
That wicket turned the tie as the Sharks attack quickly unravelled as George Bailey was trapped lbw for just five and Craig Cachopa was bowled by Rory Kleinveldt for 13.
Chris Nash made 53 and Will Beer struck a quick 16 in a late rally as the Sharks posted 165-7.
However, the Steelbacks were rampant in their response as Willey, who had finished with bowling figures of 3-27, knocked 100 from 40 balls, including five sixes in a single over.
Willey was dismissed the following ball, but the damage had already been done, leaving Cobb and Alex Wakely to steer the Steelbacks over the line.
Joe Sharratt
