Cricket Update: Northamptonshire beat Durham by 7 wickets
Northamptonshire beat Durham by 7 wickets in a one sided encounter in the Friends Provident T-20 at Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street. Durham won the toss and elected to bat first on a pitch that did not look too difficult, but they were proven wrong by some fantastic bowling from the international bowling attack of Northamptonshire.
Durham was restricted to just 129 in their allotted 20 overs. Northamptonshire had little trouble chasing down the modest target. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Northamptonshire-c824 Led by 63 from White got to the total with more than 2 overs to spare and 7 wickets intact.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Durham-c782 after winning the toss sent out Peter Mustard and Mark Sotneman to open the innings. The start was not ideal and Mustard was sent back early, he scored just 7 runs from 13 ball. He was bowled by Brooks as he got one to come in sharply in the 4th over.
Stoneman and Stokes then gave the innings some much needed shape. The scoring rate though was not lightening quick. The pitch was offering some assistance to the seamers and Sri Lankan fast bowler Chaminda Vaas did make good use of the new ball, making it swing both ways.
The pair though did put bat to ball and put away any loose balls, the partnership lasted for 32 runs, Stokes was the next to go he was cleaned up by Middlebrook, Stokes scored 24 runs from 20 balls with 4 boundaries.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Zimbabwe-c3045 all rounder Chigumbura took his wicket.
Another South African, Albe Morkel came in next to join Sotneman, and once again, a good partnership started to take shape. The tall South African was the aggressor in this stand, while Stoneman continued to keep the strike rotating.
Stoneman was finally dismissed in the 16th over, he was caught by Brooks off the bowling of Hall, and he scored 35 runs from 40 balls with 3 fours.
With the run rate hovering around just 6 an over, there was a desperate need of someone to play a blinder in the death overs, Morkel did try his hand but did not connect too many. From the other end, there was Muchall who scored 16 from 14 but there were not many boundaries coming. Morkel remained unbeaten at 35 from 27 balls with 2 fours and a six, as Durham ended their innings at 129 for the loss of 5 wickets in the allotted 20 overs.
Northamptonshire looked confident of getting to the modest target; the start also did their cause a world of good. Openers White and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Chaminda-Vaas-c1223 put on 57 for the first wicket in double quick time. The duo scored at more than 9 runs per over.
Vaas was the first one to fall; he was caught by Breese off the bowling of Liam Plunket. Vaas scored 16 runs from 15 balls with one six.
Next man in Wakely continued the good work and alongside White put on a solid stand for the 2nd wicket. Defending a small target Durham did not have many options and could not over attack, while the 2 batsman stayed on the offensive and marched towards the target.
White and Wakely both were dismissed in quick succession but by then that match was almost over. White made 63 from 49 balls with 5 fours and 2 sixes and Wakely scored 35 from 29 balls with 5 fours.
Northamptonshire got home in the 18th over with just 3 wickets down, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Rob-White-c2341 was named man of the match for his brilliant innings of 63 runs.
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