Birmingham 231 for 5 (Bell 131, Hose 64, Buck 3-38) tied with Northants 231 for 5 (Levi 95*, Cobb 61)
Scorecard

Birmingham Bears and Northants Steelbacks fought out a thrilling tie as runs flowed in the Vitality Blast at Edgbaston - with Ian Bell to the fore as he struck his first T20 hundred.

Despite conceding 229 and 220, having bowled first, in their last two games, Birmingham chose to bowl first again - and the Steelbacks piled up 231 for 5.

Richard Levi smashed an unbeaten 95 (52 balls, eight fours, six sixes), during which he passed 5,000 T20 runs, and Josh Cobb struck 61 from 35 balls.

But Birmingham replied with 231 for 5 of their own as Bell smote 131 from 62 balls and Adam Hose hit 64. They shared a world record T20 third-wicket stand of 171 from 85 balls and kept their side within sight of a spectacular victory.

Ten runs were required from the last over - and nine came to leave honours even.

The Steelbacks started at a gallop with openers Levi and Ben Duckett clobbering 40 from 19 balls. Duckett edged behind at the start of a wicket-maiden from Boyd Rankin but Levi, reprieved on 22 when he was caught at deep square leg off an Aaron Thomason no ball, took with particular relish to former team-mate Olly Stone.

He thrashed 18 from four balls in Stone's first over and 28, including four sixes, when the paceman returned to bowl the ninth. Cobb pulled Grant Elliott over the Hollies Stand and the second-wicket stand yielded 129 in 70 balls before Cobb lifted Thomason to deep mid-wicket.

Alex Wakely and Rory Kleinweldt kept the momentum high and Levi began the last over needing ten to reach his fourth T20 century. He found just five of them but walked off knowing his team were in a mighty position.

They strengthened that position with two early wickets as Ed Pollock lifted Nathan Buck to mid-off and San Hain chipped a slower ball from Kleinweldt to extra cover.

Bell and Hose batted steadily at first then gradually increased the tempo until they were parted by an unfortunate run out. When Bell was coolly caught right on the extra-cover rope by Procter the pendulum swung back the Steelbacks' way but 21 needed from the last two overs became ten from the last.

Nathan Buck kept his nerve to bowl a good final over and, rather cruelly after delivering such rich entertainment, both teams had to settle for a point. For Northants, still seeking their first win, the wait goes on.