Northants won the toss and elected to bat first in the hot and humid conditions in Sunday’s Friends Provident t20 0fixture. Albie Morkel struck on with his first delivery, sending Sales back to the dug out without scoring.
By the eighth over the Durham attack had restricted the opposition to 69-1 but the host’s overseas player, Chaminder Vaas, went on to top score with 73, with support from Niall O’Brien who contributed 37 to their 91 run partnership.
Northants passed the 150 mark in the 19th over, having lost five wickets and ended up posting the Dynamos a target of 165 to claim the win. Morkel, Gareth Breese and Ben Stokes picked up a wicket each while Ian Blackwell claimed 2-14 from his two overs.
The second innings started in the same manner as the first – a wicket first ball – Mustard caught behind off Vaas. Blackwell and Taylor, making his final appearance for the Dynamos, put on 42 before the latter was caught behind in Daggett’s first over for 24.
Blackwell (16) and Stokes (1) fell in quick succession but the run rate improved with Morkel and Benkenstein at the crease, with the Dynamos needing 97 from the last ten overs. The Dynamos were 89-5 when Benkenstein was run out by Sales on 24. Once Morkel was out, caught on the boundary by Chigumbura off Vaas for 22, the final four wickets added 29 runs, with the Steelbacks picking up a 30 run win with 10 balls to spare.
After the game Ross Taylor said, “I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time here and I’m disappointed that I’ve not been able to score more runs. After we got that first ball wicket, they batted well, they got away but the way we bowled in the last ten overs was outstanding and showed the capabilities that we do have.
“We kept losing wickets at vital times. All it takes is for someone to stand up and s ore 50 or 60 and we just didn’t do that today. It was a good all-round performance from Vaas but inconsistent one from ourselves.”
An interview with Ross Taylor will be available on Durham TV next week.
Follow the Live Match Chat from the game here www.durhamccc.co.uk/live-match-chat