Northants singing in the rain

Marcus Trescothick hits out for a six in his innings of 12

Northamptonshire booked their place in the Twenty20 Cup quarter-finals for the first time in two years despite their clash with Somerset falling foul of the weather.

The Steelbacks were given further help from the weather when Glamorgan – who needed a win to keep their own quarter-final hopes alive – saw their game with Warwickshire abandoned after just nine overs.

A tie was not enough for Justin Langer’s Sabres to progress as Northants ensured revenge was sweet after Somerset pipped the hosts at the same stage last year.

The Steelbacks had looked on course for their sixth Twenty20 victory, after putting the visitors into bat, before the heavens opened, restricting Somerset to 137 for nine.

South African seamer Johann Louw was the pick of the bowlers claiming 3-24 and also played a part in the field instigating two run-outs.

The hosts made the perfect start when Johan van der Wath had Langer caught behind by Niall O’Brien with the first ball of the game.

Marcus Trescothick pulled David Lucas for a huge six shortly afterwards but the Steelbacks seamer made amends when he caught the former England batsman for 12 off Steven Crook.

Northants continued their impressive start when Peter Trego fell for 11 caught by Rob White off the bowling of Louw.

Craig Kieswetter smashed Crook for six but was soon run out by Lucas for 12 after a mix-up with team-mate James Hildreth.

Omari Banks' half-century was in vain when the heavens opened and the match was abandoned

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Hildreth edged Louw to O’Brien to leave the Sabres reeling at 45 for five.

Jason Brown got in on the act for the Steelbacks trapping Arul Suppiah lbw for 19 before Omari Banks and Ben Phillips steadied the ship for the Sabres.

The duo hit Steelbacks captain Nicky Boje for 15 in one over as they raced to a partnership of 67 to give Somerset a glimmer of hope.

However Brown continued to stifle the Sabres attack with superb bowling as he finished the game with figures of 1-17.

Louw ran out former Northants man Phillips for 26 with the second ball of the last over and then repeated the trick removing Mark Turner with the next.

Banks reached 50 from 37 balls including six fours before Alfonso Thomas was caught and bowled by Louw as the Sabres finished on 137 for nine from their 20 overs.

Northants hit 20 runs off the first two overs with O’Brien (14 not out) hitting two fours and a six before rain stopped play.

A 49-minute delay followed before umpires Nigel Llong and Neil Mallender bought an end to proceedings to leave Northants celebrating.