THE irrepressible Keaton Jennings again rode to the rescue as Durham took a big stride towards the NatWest T20 Blast quarter-finals last night.

The leading run scorer in the Specsavers County Championship confirmed he has become a man for all formats as his unbeaten 36 off 24 balls saw Durham to a six-wicket home win against Northamptonshire.

By maintaining their unbeaten home record, Durham moved into the third qualifying place.

But after launching their reply to 149 for five with an opening stand of 77 inside ten overs, they crumbled to 89 for four before Jennings and Michael Richardson took them home with nine balls to spare.

Both teams were on 100 after 14 overs, but Jennings eased the pressure by cutting burly seamer Rory Kleinveldt for an astonishing six over cover as the 16th over produced 15 vital runs.

Both Ben Stokes, who made one, and Mark Stoneman were lbw trying to sweep Sri Lankan leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna, who also had Phil Mustard caught off a towering straight drive.

When Kleinveldt had the dependable Gordon Muchall lbw for a duck Durham appeared to have developed an acute case of the jitters. But Richardson clamly kept Jennings company with his unbeaten 22.

Despite Josh Cobb making 68 off 51 balls, Durham kept a tight rein on the Steelbacks with another excellent display in the field.

Going in at 14 for two, pint-sized left-hander Ben Duckett shared a stand of 95 with Cobb. But his unbeaten 48 off 42 balls lacked the firepower to take his side to a winning total.

After Stoneman again won the toss, Chris Rushworth got Durham off to the perfect start by knocking out Richard Levi's off stump with the first ball.

Mark Wood opened at the other end and claimed a wicket in his second over when Adam Rossington went down the track and swung wildly, only to sky a comfortable catch for Mustard.

By keeping the two bowlers going for three overs each, Durham restricted the Steelbacks to 31 for two in the powerplay.

Wood almost had a second wicket when Cobb, on 16, narrowly cleared Ryan Pringle at mid-off.

As against Leicestershire on Sunday, Durham were able to bring on Scott Borthwick with the visitors under pressure on 43 for two after eight overs.

Cobb had to get after him and was lucky when his first attempt at a big hit flew off the edge for two, but the next ball soared out of the middle over long-on.

There was no repeat of Sunday's success for Borthwick as two overs cost 24, forcing Durham to try Pringle.

A lofted straight drive off Jennings by Cobb gave him his fifth four and took him to 50 off 40 balls before driving Pringle for a straight six.

Wood returned for his final over, the 15th, and stemmed the flow by conceding only three singles and a bye to finish with one for 19.

That put Northants under pressure and in the next over Jennings took two wickets. Cobb tried to scythe him through off side and played on, then Steven Crook went down the pitch and was bamboozled by a slower ball, giving Mustard a simple stumping.

Kleinveldt scored 23 of the 35 runs which came off the last four overs, including a huge six over the sightscreen off Jennings.

Paul Coughlin was entrusted with the final over and conceded only five before Kleinveld was athletically caught by Wood at long leg off the last ball.