TOM Knight's spectacular late big-hitting could not earn Derbyshire a victory against Northamptonshire in their NatWest t20 Blast match at Wantage Road.
Knight, who went in at the fall of the fifth wicket in the 15th over, finished 44 not out to power the Falcons to 191-6. His runs came off only 18 balls.
But Northants countered that with 69 from South African opener Richard Levy and a quickfire 34 from Adam Rossington late in their reply as they won by four wickets with four balls to spare.
Chesney Hughes' struggles in the competition continued when he edged a catch through to wicketkeeper Ben Duckett off David Willey for two in the third over but Gareth Cross joined Marcus North in a second-wicket stand of 67 in seven overs.
That carried the Falcons on to 77-1 in the 10th over but then North skied a pull at spinner James Middlebrook and was well caught at deep midwicket for 29.
The 13th over was a costly one for Derbyshire as Cross was caught at short cover off Steven Crook's first ball for 48 and Wayne Madsen was caught at third man for 10 off the fourth ball to make it 101-4.
Crook had Alex Hughes lbw for two in his next over at 118-5 in the 15th but Billy Godleman and Knight gave the innings a late boost by adding 47 in 24 balls before Godleman was bowled by Olly Stone for 39 at 165-6 in the 19th over.
His runs came off 24 balls with five fours and a six.
But Knight picked up the momentum and, having swept Graeme White for two successive sixes in the 17th over, he hit Willey for three more in the final over.
Opening pair Levy and Willey sparked the Steelbacks' reply with 96 in 10.3 overs before Levy was caught at deep midwicket. He scored his runs off 37 balls with seven fours and four sixes.
Kyle Coetzer (13) and Crook (3) quickly followed at 119-3 and when Willey was dismissed for 40 – to give David Wainwright 3-26 in his four overs – Derbyshire were wrestling control back at 134-4 in the 15th over.
But Rossington, on loan from Middlesex, hit four fours and two sixes as he and Ben Duckett (14) put on 42 in 21 balls for the fifth wicket to nudge Northants back ahead.
Greg Cork took the wickets of both in three balls of the 19th over to leave 14 to get off eight balls but White came to the crease to hit his first two balls for six and end Derbyshire's hopes.
