Friends Provident T20: Somerset defeat Northamptonshire
Somerset spinners performed exceptionally well at the County Ground in Taunton when they helped their team to power into the semi-final of the 2010 Friends Provident T20. While chasing a below par T20 total of 112 set by the out-of-sorts batting of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Craig-Kieswetter-c51708 and Trego scored some heavy blows to ensure an early finish with seven wickets intact.
A disciplined bowling performance from the spinners led by Arul Suppiah restricted Northamptonshire to a below-par 112 for six during their allotted 20 overs. The remarkable bowling was well aided by the Somerset fielders. The damage caused to the Northants batting line was largely caused by the three run outs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Stephen-Peters-c2574 scored 40 from 34 balls who was the leading run-scorer for Somerset. Rob White chipped in with 26 runs from as many balls to aid the score in the dying overs of the innings.
After winning the toss, Northamptonshire Captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alex-Wakely-c988 to the crease who repeated the same mistake. Wakely hammered two sweet boundaries before he was run out by Mark Turner while taking a careless single. Wakely scored 8 runs from eight deliveries.
After Wakley’s run out, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mark-Turner-c1911’s delivery with not many on the board. Sales’ 15 minute stay at the crease added just three runs to the scorecard after facing nine deliveries.
Fluent opener Rob White followed Sales in the next over as the left arm spinner bowled him comprehensively, leaving the responsibility on Steven Peters’ shoulders. Steven though fulfilled his job very well with an unbeaten 40 off 34 balls, but lacked support from the other end.
The duo of left arm spinners, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Arul-Suppiah-c1084 and Murali Kartik, bowled in tandem and did not let the opposition batting line break free. In the ninth over, Northants were struggling at 43 for five and the side was desperate for a steady partnership. Steven Peters took the initiative and built a 40-run partnership with Captain Andrew Hall. Northamptonshire was 82 on the board when the unlucky Northants faced another run out with their captain going back to the pavilion. Hall scored 14 runs after facing 31 deliveries. At that stage, it seemed as if Hall’s men would not be able to reach the three digit total.
Some late order hitting by Sales and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/David-Willey-c1342 earned 40 precious runs to the side in the last three overs which took Northants to a solid total of 112. Suppiah, Kartik and Turner took one wicket each with Suppiah being the most economical bowler, conceding runs at an economy of 3.50 per over followed by Kartik’s 3.75.
In reply, Somerset’s run chase was led by Craig Kieswetter of England. Kieswetter, despite losing his opening partner http://www.senore.com/Cricket/James-Hildreth-c1647 (25) and Zander de Bruyn (15) took their side to safety with three overs to spare and seven wickets intact. Murali Kartik and Arul Suppiah shared the man-of-the-match honours.
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