T20 Blast: Afridi's heroics in vain as Lancashire beat Northants in final
Afridi helped check Lancashire's progress, the veteran all-rounder taking a superb three for 14.
LONDON (AFP) - Shahid Afridi s all-round heroics were not enough as Lancashire beat Northamptonshire by 13 runs in the final of England s domestic Twenty20 Blast tournament at Edgbaston on Saturday.
Sent into bat, Lancashire made 166 for seven in their 20 overs, a total built on a 77-run opening stand between South Africa s Ashwell Prince (43) and Alex Davies (47), who was named man-of-the-match.
Afridi, Pakistan s T20 captain, helped check Lancashire s progress, the veteran all-rounder taking a superb three for 14 in a maximum four overs with his leg-spinners.
Meanwhile, Northampton-born David Willey, set to leave his native side for county champions Yorkshire, saw his left-arm fast-medium bowling yield figures of two for 21.
Northamptonshire had stormed into finals day on the back of Willey s blistering 40-ball hundred against Sussex -- the quickest Twenty20 century by an Englishman.
The way he struck Australia s James Faulkner into the Eric Hollies Stand for six on Saturday hinted at similar fireworks in the final.
But Faulkner responded by removing Levi (16) and England limited overs all-rounder Willey (24) in the space of four balls, with the aid of catches at mid-off and mid-wicket respectively.
Josh Cobb (44 not out) and Afridi (26) revived Northamptonshire s hopes with a rapid fifth-wicket stand of 52.
Boom Boom struck one huge six while another fierce hit straight back at Faulkner left the Australian needing to have his finger straightened out by a member of the Lancashire medical staff.
But Gavin Griffiths effectively ended Northamptonshire s victory charge when he induced Afridi to hole out to Liam Livingstone in the deep.
The semi-finals saw Lancashire dismiss Hampshire for 115 in a six-wicket win, while Northamptonshire beat Edgbaston-based Warwickshire by five wickets, with Levi making 63 not out as they chased down a target of 132.
