An unbeaten 76 from 49 balls by Sam Northeast underpinned a 57-run victory for Glamorgan against Southerns today at Harare in the first of their T20 contests in the tri-angular series involving Northerns and Southerns. (writes Andrew Hignell).
With Sophia Gardens covered in snow this morning, the Glamorgan playing squad are very grateful to be in Zimbabwe where they take part today in the first of three T20 matches against provincial opposition, meeting Southerns at Harare. After being put in to bat, Glamorgan lost two early wickets as Tom Bevan was caught at third man in the second over, before Alex Horton was pouched at cover by Tashinga Musekiwa in Brandon Mavuta's opening over.
21-2 saw David Lloyd join Sam Northeast and the club captain was swiftly into his stride clipping Luke Jongwe for six over fine-leg. Northeast also unfurled a brace of boundaries before Lloyd clipped Musekiwa over deep backward square-leg for another maximum as Glamorgan reached 68-2 at the halfway stage of their innings. Lloyd also hosited Tanaka Chivanga, who has international experience for Zimbabwe, over deep mid-wicket for four. but next ball, the paceman bowled Lloyd for 31.
Having been joined by Callum Taylor, Northeast continued to anchor the innings as his new part drove Musekiwa through extra-cover fro four before clipping him to the ropes at fine-leg as the tourists reached 107-3 after 15 overs.Taylor also clipped Jongwe, another seamer who has played in ODI's for Zimbabwe to backward square-leg for four, but later in the over, he was bowled for 27.
Northeast reposnded with successive fours against Chivanga, the first of which sailed to the boards at extra-cover with the second going to deep mid-wicket as the opening batter completed a 40-ball fifty. Northeast celebrated by launching Chivanga over long-on for six before Chris Cooke began a boundary-laden cameo. He started by driving Tendai Chatura through deep extra-cover and to the ropes at long-off, before harpooning the bowler to deep mid-wicket. Cooke then lofted Jongwe over deep square-leg for six but having blasted 21 from eight balls, he was caught next ball at deep backward point. Northeast miantained the tempo by lofting Chivanga over deep backward square for a pair of sixes in the final over as he ended unbeaten on 76 from 49 balls having struck 6 fours and a trio of sixes with his side ending on 172-5.
Innocent Kaia began their chase by plundering a pair of leg-side boundaries in Jamie McIlroy's opening over before adding successive fours in the left-armers second over. But next ball, Kaia edged a ball into Chris Cooke's gloves with his brother Roy briefly replacing him before being bowled by Harry Podmore. 27-2 saw Clive Madande join Cephas Zhuwao, the Southerns captain, with the latter swatting Prem Sisodiya for six over deep mid-wicket. However, their pairing proved to be a brief one as, with the total on 50, Madande clipped Dan Douthwaite into the hands of Taylor at mid-wicket.
The fielder then entered the attack and with his second delivery saw Richmond Mutumbami survive a chance at mid-off. Zhuwao then hoisted Andy Gorvin for six over long-off but perished next ball as he holed out to Tom Bevan at long-on. Jonathan Cambell, the son of former Zimbabwea captain Alistair Campbell, then despatched Gorvin for four to long-off with Mutumbani also driving Taylor to the ropes at long-on as Southerns reached 73-4 at the halfway stage of their innings. Campbell added a second four to his tally as he drove Gorvin through mid-wicket, but next over the batter departed l.b.w. to Douthwaite.
85-5 then became 91-6 as Brian Bennett lofted a ball from Sisodiya to wide long-off where McIlroy completed the catch. Six runs later, James Harris had Mutumbami caught at extra-cover by Podmore as the Southerns task became 73 from 30 balls. With the total on 108, Tashinga Musekiwa was lured down the pitch by Sisodiya and was smartly stumped by Cooke, before one run later, Jongwe swatted McIlroy to deep square-leg where Northeast completed the catch. Douthwaite then ended the contest as he bowled Brandon Mavuta as Southerns ended on 115 giving Glamorgan victory by 57 runs.