Willey to the rescue for Northants

Ian Harvey takes the plaudits after removing Ian Bell as Northants successfully defend a total of 155 for seven

Teenage all-rounder David Willey helped Northamptonshire maintain their unbeaten start in the Twenty20 Cup with a 24-run win over Warwickshire at Edgbaston.

Warwickshire, chasing 156, appeared to be coasting, but 19-year-old Willey set up an unlikely victory, Northamptonshire's fourth in a row, by taking 2-17 in four miserly overs.

Willey, the son of former England batsman Peter and the only Northamptonshire-born player on the county's staff, had Jonathan Trott taken at long-on and then snared England wicketkeeper Tim Ambrose at extra cover.

With England spinner Monty Panesar conceding only 22 in four overs, Warwickshire completely lost momentum at a critical stage and mustered just 39 runs in their last nine overs, totalling 131 for six.

Trott's dismissal proved the turning point as he had looked set to lead Warwickshire to victory, and he was closing in on a third successive half-century when he holed out.

Trott, however, overtook Northamptonshire's Ian Harvey to become the 12th-highest run scorer in the history of Twenty20 cricket during the course of his 34-ball 44.

Even England batsman Ian Bell could not inspire Warwickshire as he pulled a slow full toss from Harvey to midwicket in the only over that Northamptonshire's new overseas player bowled.

Rob White's steady 59, made from 47 balls, was the main feature of Northamptonshire's innings of 155 for seven, although he was eventually pinned down by the accuracy of spinners Jeetan Patel and Ant Botha.

White, who struck seven fours, was bowled by a full-length delivery from Steffan Piolet as he tried to accelerate.

Keith Barker runs out Steven Crook, but his drop at deep midwicket allowed Riki Wessels to plunder 28 off 15 balls

Northamptonshire were relieved that former England youth international footballer Keith Barker dropped two catches in the deep, the most costly on the midwicket boundary when Riki Wessels had made just one.

Wessels, Northamptonshire's wicketkeeper with Niall O'Brien on Ireland duty, went on to flay 28 from 15 balls, including a pulled six off Barker, before he lifted Piolet to long-off.