adminNORTHERNS successfully defended a modest total of 133 to beat Canon South Western Districts by nine runs in the final match of Pool B at the Africa T20 Cup at the Oudtshoorn Recreation Ground yesterday.
This result means that Northerns claim the runners-up spot behind Northern Cape.
It was a low-scoring affair in which Thomas Kaber (43 not out off 32 balls, 2 fours and 2 sixes) was the top scorer for Northerns and was effectively won off the first ball of the 18th over of the SWD innings when Grant Thomson threw down the stumps to run out Dane Vilas as the latter attempted a too sharp single to regain the strike. At that stage SWD needed 29 off the last three overs to win the match.
Vilas (37 off 31 balls, 2 fours and 2 sixes) had shepherded an inexperienced batting line-up towards possible victory but his departure brought an end to their hopes.
Northerns victory was set up by some disciplined bowling with Man of the Match Andrew Rasemene (3/16 in 4 overs) standing out. Lungi Ngidi was not far behind him with his 2/16, also from 4 overs.
North West, Zimbabwe and Northern Cape are the three sides to have qualified for the finals weekend at the end of the month. The fourth finalist will come from Pool D which plays its qualifying round at Boland Park, Paarl, this coming weekend. The contesting provinces are Boland, KZN, Eastern Province and Gauteng. — Sports Campus
Online Reporter