In the latest round of the T20 Blast in England, Richard Levi returned to form as he clubbed Yorkshire to all parts. GARETH STEVENS reports.
In Friday’s clash between Northamptonshire and Yorkshire at County Ground in Northampton, the visitors set an imposing total of 181-3 as all their batsmen managed to get going. The pre-match hype was all about the Australian Aaron Finch, but Levi showed why he can be so dangerous in this format.
He led the chase with a belligerent 76 off 47 balls from the top of the order and looked to be single-handedly taking the game away from this season’s form team. However, he found little support and when he was dismissed trying to launch his sixth maximum, the chase lost all impetus.
The other batsmen offered very little in the face of some disciplined bowling and Northamptonshire eventually finished on 165-9, 17 runs short of their target. The win illustrates Yorkshire’s power and that they are the team to beat in all formats this season.
Levi was not the only South African to prove his worth in this round of the T20 Blast. Alfonso Thomas featured in both of Somerset’s wins in a productive weekend for the men from Taunton.
They first beat Hampshire by a single run in a cliff-hanger. Kyle Abbott returned figures of 1-27 in his four overs to restrict Somerset to 176-4. Thomas then conceded 46 runs in his four overs, but his two wickets were instrumental in restricting Hampshire to 175-7 and thus securing victory for his team.
Somerset enjoyed a far more comfortable win in their second outing over the long weekend as they beat Sussex by 34 runs. The batsmen did the job by posting 163-4 before the bowlers fired as a unit, including Thomas’ 1-17 in three overs, to dismiss Sussex for 129.
Surrey crushed Sussex by 10 wickets to complete a forgettable weekend for the opposition. Robin Peterson finished with economical figures of 2-26 in his four overs to restrict Sussex to 148-5.
The Surrey opening pair then knocked off the target in just 15.3 overs. Proteas Test captain Hashim Amla spent some much needed time in the middle and finished on 61 off 50 deliveries.
Wayne Madsen also excelled in a good weekend for the Saffas. He kept his side in the contest after a stuttering start to their chase, but his 65 off 40 balls ultimately wasn’t enough. Derbyshire fell eight runs short of Worcestershire’s total.
