Northamptonshire survived a scare to edge out Cardiff MCCU by three runs in Saturday's T20 fixture on pre-season tour in Barbados.

It took an excellent final over from Muhammad Azharullah to secure victory against the students who had beaten Nottinghamshire in the same format earlier in the day.

Adam Rossington gave the Steelbacks a flying start with 45 off just 19 balls - including three sixes and five fours - as Northamptonshire totalled 162 for six in their 20 overs.

Steven Crook was also on song, hitting 31 from 34 balls, and Max Holden chipped in with 21 as Cardiff pulled it back a bit in the closing overs.  At 95-3 in the 12th over the County might have been hoping for a bigger total.

Early strikes from Gareth Wade and Nathan Buck then had the students in trouble at 13 for two in reply, and at 108 for seven with five overs left it looked all over.

But Tom Cullen had other ideas, and his excellent unbeaten 55 from 41 deliveries - supported by Yuvraj Odedra in a productive eighth-wicket stand - brought it down to the wire.

Saif Zaib again impressed with the ball, conceding just 19 runs from four tight overs, while Crook claimed 3-28 and 'Azhar' brought all his experience to bear late on.

Northamptonshire now face Hampshire in a two-day match on Monday and Tuesday.