WARWICKSHIRE Bears failed to defeat a 200-plus score in a final over six-wicket defeat against Northamptonshire Steelbacks in the T20 Blast.
The Bears posted 208-7 from their 20 overs at Edgbaston as Beau Webster fell three runs short of a century.
However, an unbeaten century from Northants opener Chris Lynn guided the visitors to victory with four balls to spare.
The defeat means Warwickshire remain bottom of the T20 Central and West Group standings having lost all four of their Blast fixtures this season.
The Bears lost opener Rob Yates (0) at the end of the first over as Zen Malik (24) and Webster (97) scored quick runs to boost the home side’s total.
Webster smashed 15 boundaries in a 56-ball innings only to fall just short of a century as he departed following the final ball of the innings.
Ed Barnard (40) also added useful runs while Ben Sanderson (1-35) took three wickets in as many balls in the final over.
Sanderson claimed the scalp of Webster and also ran out Jordan Thompson (15) and Chris Woakes (0) with the final three balls of the innings.
Northants needed 209 runs for victory and made a quick start to their reply as openers Ricardo Vasconcelos (27) and Lynn (115 not out) blasted 69 runs from the first five overs.
Barnard (0-10) ran out Vasconcelos to break up the partnership but Lynn remained at the crease and punished the Bears attack.
Lynn reached his century in 53 balls as he hit 13 fours and five sixes while Nathan McSweeney (19), David Willey (23) and Justin Broad (14) all contributed to the away side’s total.
Northants needed five runs from the final over and Lewis McManus (five not out) duly scored the winning runs as the Steelbacks closed on reached 209-4 with four balls remaining.
Warwickshire continue their T20 Blast campaign against Nottinghamshire Outlaws on Friday, June 5 with play to start at 6.30pm at Trent Bridge.
