FRIENDS PROVIDENT t20, Northampton:
Northants 164-5 beat Durham 134 by 30 runs
Match scorecard

Chaminda Vaas had only previously hit one Twenty20 fifty in 37 knocks

Durham slumped to their fourth FP t20 defeat in just seven days as their hopes of making the quarter-finals took another turn for the worse.

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Chaminda Vaas starred with the bat, hitting 73 as Northants set a target of 164-5.

Vaas, now 36, then did his stuff with the ball too, taking 3-23 as Durham were bowled out for 134.

After losing sipper Phil Mustard first ball Durham never recovered, going down to a 30-run defeat.

County champions Durham can now concentrate instead on this week's brief but nonetheless welcome return to Championship cricket when they entertain Warwickshire at Chester-le-Street on Monday.

Northants, who leap above Durham into sixth, are now just a point off earning another quarter-final spot, a point ahead of Durham.

But Durham have played more games than any other in the North Group team - and they cannot afford any more slip-ups if they are to make the last eight.

Northants also lost a wicket to the first ball of their innings when David Sales edged Albie Morkel to slip. But a quickfire 50 partnership off 30 balls between Vaas and O'Brien put the Steelbacks back on track.

Vaas went on to pass his previous Twenty best of 54, made against his old county Worcestershire two weeks ago, before Ian Blackwell brought his superb innings to an end.

Chasing 165, after Mustard was quickly caught behind, New Zealander Ross Taylor blasted two enormous leg-side sixes before also edging to the keeper.

The visitors then lost two quick wickets before Dale Benkenstein gave his side hope with 24.

But he was run out by Sales at extra cover when Morkel tried to run a quick single off Boje - and Durham's hopes departed with him.

Northants skipper Andrew Hall told BBC Radio Northampton:
"The guys played exceptionally well.

"We spoke about it [after Friday's defeat at Worcestershire] are our batters needed to get in and get big scores for us.

"That's exactly what Chaminder did."

BBC Radio Northampton's Richard Savage offers his post-match verdict:

This wasn't quite a 'must-win' for the Steelbacks, but a loss would have seriously dented the chances of a top four spot.

As it was this was probably their best all-round performance yet in the t20 competition.

Chaminda Vaas is worth his weight in gold to Northants in this competition and Andrew Hall is growing steadily into an astute captain.

He was backed up by some canny bowling and a very good fielding side.

Northants' next four games are all at home now. They will have no better chance to string together a run of victories and force themselves into a quarter-final place.

BBC Radio Newcastle's Martin Emmerson:

Durham's T20 campaign is in serious danger of going completely off the rails.

Their sixth defeat in 11 games leaves their hopes of qualification to the quarter-finals hanging in the balance.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version