THE demands of two Twenty20 matches in quick succession proved too much for Durham last night as they lost the NatWest T20 Blast final by four wickets against Northamptonshire at Edgbaston.

Despite a majestic innings of 88 by Keaton Jennings, two more than the previous record in an English T20 final, Durham failed to build any partnerships in making 153 for eight.

Northants did build a match-winning stand after slipping to nine for three, Josh Cobb and Alex Wakeley putting on 120 before they got home with five balls to spare.

Cobb, who once made a rapid half-century for Leicestershire against Durham, got to 50 off 26 balls when he hit Scott Borthwick for his third six with a huge blow wide of long-on.

Wakeley was run out with 25 needed off 31 balls, but Cobb went on to make 80 before he was caught behind trying to hit the winning six off Chris Rushworth.

There were still 14 balls left and Northants made heavy weather of it as Steven Crook was run out without scoring.

Anyone suggesting pre-season that Jennings would break a T20 final record would probably have been certified. He was three short of Durham's own record when he was caught at deep backward square leg with 11 balls of the innings left.

Although he scored his runs off 58 balls, there was no slogging. It was a very measured, sensible kncok full of cultured strokes with three of his four sixes being lifted straight down the ground.

Because of the earlier showers the final began an hour late at 7pm and as Durham had scarcely had time to get their breath back they again chose to bat.

They took 16 off the first two overs before it began to go wrong. Mark Stoneman toe-ended a pull to give Azharullah a return catch before Ben Stokes hit four of his first seven balls to the boundary.

He looked too anxious to smash everything and pulled the eighth to deep mid-wicket to depart for 18.

Michael Richardson edged to the wicketkeeper then Jack Burnham was run out without scoring when he risked a third to third man.

At 49 for four in the eighth over Paul Collingwood had to go in ten overs before he did in the semi-final.

He and Jennings took the total to 68 at the halfway stage then the opener lifted left-arm spinner Graeme White for a huge straight six.

Jennings went to his 50 off 40 balls, but off the next ball Collingwood skied Ben Sanderson to deep square leg, making it 89 for five in the 13th.

Ryan Pringle made two off seven balls before being brilliantly caught by a diving Josh Cobb at extra cover.

But with Borthwick for company, Jennings stepped on the gas as he pulled Ben Sanderson for six in the 15th over and followed up with straight sixes in the next two off Steven Crook and Rory Kleinveldt.

Inbetween he pushed the ball gently into spaces to run two, playing with all the assurance of a T20 veteran rather than a player who could not be sure of his place at the start of the season.

Mark Wood started where he left off in the semi-final, having Adam Rossington caught at slip by Borthwick with his second ball.

Two balls later he rapped Cobb on the pads and when the ball flew behind the slips Richard Levi called for a run. But the burly South African was too sluggish to make his ground before Borthwick threw down the stumps.

At four for two in marched Ben Duckett, who made a brilliant 84 in the semi-final win against Nottinghamshire.

Rushworth went round the wicket to the little left-hander and pinned him lbw, sparking joyous celebrations.

As in the semi, however, Usman Arshad's first over proved expensive. It included a high full toss, which was deemed a no-ball and was hit for six over square leg by Cobb, who then edged the free-hit for four as 18 came off the over.

When the total reached 88 after 11 Wood had to be recalled, but his magic was spent and he began with a wide as 11 came off the over.

Then Wakely drove Borthwick for a straight six and as the bursts of music grew louder it was clear that Northants were calling the tune.