Richard Levi continued his revival of form down the order, and Rory Kleinveldt got into the swing as as Northants completed an eight-wicket win in two days’ play in the English County Championship on Monday.
Northants struggled to first-innings 246, taking a lead of 146 over Kent. But it was enough as Kleinveldt rose to the occasion again, taking 3-44, to go with the 5-41 he had pocketed in the first innings. Kent had been dismissed for 140 in the first innings after day one had been washed out, and they scraped together just 151 in the second.
Earlier, Levi had resumed on 20 off 51 balls, but he went on to his fifty off 98, bring up the milestone with a six.
He hit form and his highest first-class score, an unbeaten 157, against Essex earlier this month, having been moved from his opening spot.
More seen as a one-day blaster, he had been struggling as an opening bat and was moved down the order.
Chris Cooke, the former Western Province player who is now a Glamorgan veteran, hit 84 to haul his team out of trouble against Leicestershire in the English County Championship on Monday.
He laid the foundation of their total of 278 with a well-measured 84, coming off 141 balls, with 11 fours, at which point he was bowled by Charlie Shreck.
Cooke came to the crease when the score was 23-3, and took the senior role at 57-4. Back in the pavilion were Jacques Rudolph (1) and Colin Ingram (0). It must be the grey and miserable weather, for both of them crashed out in the disastrous T20 match on Sunday on their home ground in Cardiff.
But Cooke stood firm with Craig Meschede, who contributed 24 to a stand of 59 for the fifth wicket.
The Glamorgan tail was led by a 94 from Graham Wagg, which took them to 278. Leicestershire were 37-1 at the close.
Surrey are in a strong position against Derbyshire, with Dean Elgar back in action. Having added 44 to Surrey’s first-innings’ total of 239 on Sunday, he was at the crease on on 14 as Surrey closed the day on 77-2. Derbys, 64-1 overnight, were bundled out for 207 in 65 overs. Surrey now lead by 109.
Elgar has been contracted for 10 days as injury and absenteeism weakened Surrey’s top-order line-up.
Alfonso Thomas, another Province product, showed that at 38 there is no diminishing of his powers. He took 3-38 off 13 overs to help roll Hampshire over for 147, in reply to Somerset’s 346. Hampshire were asked to try again, and Thomas picked up another, leaving Hampshire at 41-2 at the close, still 158 behind.
With a classical display of swing bowling, Thomas at one stage had 3-15 from a superb seven-over spell, four of which were maidens.
Gareth Berg stood out for Hampshire, taking 4-64 and then top-scoring with 38 as he tried to stem the tide in the first innings.
Compiled by Mark Salter
