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The seven final bidders comprise Disney Star, Sony, Viacom-Reliance, Zee, Fun Asia, Super Sport and Times Internet

Nagraj Gollapudi11-Jun-2022Amazon has pulled out of the race to own the media rights to the IPL for the next five years. ESPNcricinfo has learned the global e-commerce giant is not among the final list of seven bidders participating in the e-auction on Sunday to decide who will get to broadcast one of the most lucrative tournaments in the cricket calendar.Amazon has been a lead player in acquiring lucrative streaming rights across global sports and was expected to bid aggressively for the IPL’s digital rights packages. In 2021, the company struck a billion-dollar-a-year deal (for 10 years) to broadcast just 15 Thursday night matches in the National Football League in the USA. Their withdrawal will be a blow to the IPL.It is learned that the decision not to pursue the media rights was made by Amazon’s top brass in the US and that it was communicated to the IPL on Friday – the deadline for bidders to submit their paperwork.With Disney-Star, Sony, Viacom-Reliance, Zee, Fun Asia, Super Sport and Times Internet still in the running, the number of bidders this time is exactly half that of the previous auction, when 14 companies vied for the broadcast rights of the IPL from 2018 to 2022. Star India beat all comers with a record bid of $2.55 billion in the global consolidated category (TV and digital for India and rest of the world), making it the richest media rights deal in cricket.This time, though, the IPL has segregated the TV and digital rights into their own packages. Package A consists of TV rights for the Indian subcontinent. Package B caters to digital rights for the Indian subcontinent. Package C contains digital rights for a special bouquet of matches, including the playoffs, for the Indian subcontinent. And Package D, TV and digital rights for the Rest of the World, which is divided into two sub-categories: combined ROW or five individual regions.The auction will start at 11am IST on Sunday with the simultaneous sale of Packages A and B. Only once winners are decided for them will Packages C and D come up for bidding. Also, given there is a half hour interval between every bid, there is a strong chance the auction may spill over into a second day.Every bidder can compete for more than one category but will need to list their price on a per match basis. For Package A, the base price per match is INR 49 crore (USD 6.3 million approx.). For Package B, it is INR 33 crore (USD 4.2 million approx.). For Package C, it is INR 16 crore (USD 2.05 million approx.). For Package D, it is INR 3 crore (USD 390,000 approx.).The IPL has made one change to the e-auction though. The winner of Package A can enter into a contest for the digital rights with the winner of Package B. Originally, this contest was supposed to feature bid increments of at least 5% but now it’s become a direct face-off. No minimum bid increments. The same process would be repeated to determine the winners of Packages C and D.

The legspinner has spoken with the selectors and retains hopes of making the T20 World Cup

Tristan Lavalette23-Nov-2022After meaningful discussions with national selectors, legspinner Amanda-Jade Wellington believes she knows what it takes to be part of Australia’s title defence at the T20 World Cup following her surprise omission for next month’s tour of India.Wellington was notably overlooked from the 15-player squad for the five-match T20I series, which is seen as important preparation for February’s T20 World Cup in South Africa. She was a casualty as selectors sought to strengthen the pace stocks for a squad under the helm of new skipper Alyssa Healy, who has taken the reins with regular captain Meg Lanning on a personal break.Alana King, Jess Jonassen and Ashleigh Gardner were named as the frontline spinners.Related

• Jess Jonassen ruled out of India series with a hamstring injury

• Garth gets Australia call-up; Healy named captain for India T20I tour

• Alyssa Healy hints at a return for Meg Lanning from her indefinite break

• Fire burned for Erin, but perspective most important

Wellington was part of Australia’s squads in their triumphs at the 50-over World Cup and Commonwealth Games, while she has been a standout in the WBBL with 21 wickets at an average of 15.09 for Adelaide Strikers to be named in the team of the tournament.”It’s [the omission] perfectly fine. I think it’s a really good squad heading to India,” Wellington told reporters on Wednesday. “I would love to go to India, but I’m looking forward to WNCL and an opportunity to play 50-over cricket and represent South Australia as well.”She said in-depth conversations with Australia’s hierarchy has helped her understand what is required to make the squad to South Africa.”I think I’ve personally gotten better at that [talking to selectors],” Wellington said. “I think in the past, I would probably push it aside and deal with it. The last few years I’ve questioned it a little bit, I’ve got a little bit of clarity around it.”That makes me feel more at peace with it and know that they are making the right decisions. The communication is really on point and I know what I need to do for next selection time.”You’ve got people like Alana King who is a really good leggie at the moment and you’ve got someone like Georgia Wareham coming back into the mix, so I know there’s going to be a lot of competition but hopefully I can put my hand up [for the T20 World Cup].”So I think for me, it’s more so putting that behind me now and making sure I perform in the WBBL finals.”Wellington will be hoping to issue a reminder to selectors in the WBBL’s finals on Thursday when Strikers play Brisbane Heat in The Challenger.”I think the really good thing is that we’ve got really good momentum coming into the semis,” said Wellington, who starred with 5 for 8 in The Eliminator against Heat last season. “The higher the pressure, the more that’s at stake. I always want the ball.”I think I’m more at peace with my game, knowing that’s my role, I’m here to take wickets and if I go for runs, that’s okay.”

Mir Hamza and uncapped fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani also included

ESPNcricinfo staff24-Dec-2022Pakistan have strengthened their bowling resources by adding fast bowlers Shahnawaz Dahani and Mir Hamza and offspinner Sajid Khan to their squad for the two-match Test series at home against New Zealand.Sajid has played seven Tests so far and was part of the Pakistan squad for the three-match series against Australia in March. Hamza played just a solitary Test back in 2018 against Australia, while Dahani is uncapped.Related

• Shahid Afridi named interim chief selector of Pakistan men's team

• Second Test moved from Multan to Karachi because of weather concerns

• PCB overhaul – chief selector Wasim sacked, all committees formed after 2019 disbanded

The decision was taken by the Shahid Afridi-led men’s interim selection committee on Saturday.”We had a good discussion on the squad and agreed we needed to strengthen our bowling department to give ourselves the best chance of taking 20 wickets in a match,” Afridi said in a PCB media release.”I am confident the inclusion of three additional bowling resources will give Babar Azam more options to field the best available squad for the first Test.”While Sajid did not have the best of times during the Tests against Australia, returning only four wickets in three matches, he fared much better in the 2022-23 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Pakistan’s premier first-class competition. The offspinner picked up 21 wickets in seven first-class matches at 34.04 for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He had recorded the fourth-best figures in an innings for a Pakistan bowler in 2022, when he took 8 for 42 against Bangladesh.Hamza, too, has shown decent form in the tournament, having picked up 16 wickets in four games at an average of 24.00. Dahani played only two games for Sindh this season but has been involved with the Pakistan white-ball sides.The two-Test series against New Zealand will get underway on Monday in Karachi. Earlier on Saturday, it was announced that the second Test will be moved from Multan to Karachi because of weather concerns. The entire series now – two Tests and three ODIs – will now be staged in Karachi.

Capitals have mostly had the better of Kings in the last two seasons, but the two teams start the new season on even terms

Nagraj Gollapudi22-Mar-2024

Match details

Punjab Kings (PBKS) vs Delhi Capitals (DC)
Mullanpur, 3.30pm IST (1030 GMT)

Big picture – Rishabh Pant is back

The first afternoon match of IPL 2024 will be dominated by just one storyline in the lead up: the return of Rishabh Pant, who survived a car crash in December 2022. He had three ligament reconstructions in his right knee, told his surgeon he would recover six months sooner than expected, walked on crutches, accelerating his rehab, and is now hours away from walking out as Delhi Capitals’ captain on Saturday.Related

• Rishabh Pant is back – celebrating life, loving cricket

• 'Jittery, nervous, excited' – Pant ahead of his comeback

• Inside the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium, Punjab's new open-air venue in Mullanpur

• Punjab Kings lack a strong Indian batting core

• Pant's return is huge, but so are Capitals' concerns

The question is whether he can find his match fitness quickly. While Pant played several practice matches at the BCCI’s National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru before getting the clearance to play the IPL, coming back from what he has is never easy. Can he play with the fearlessness that has defined his career? Saturday will not provide all the answers, but it could set the tone for a remarkable comeback.As for Punjab Kings, it is their first match at their new home base in Mullanpur. Kings’ previous home ground was the IS Bindra Stadium in Mohali, where they won just one of their five games in IPL 2023. Overall, Capitals have won 15 of the 32 matches they have played against Kings, but in the last two years, they have won five of six.

Team news – Will Pant keep wickets?

While Jonny Bairstow, who missed IPL 2023 because of an injury, has returned to strengthen Kings’ top order, the absence of a power-hitter in the lower order – apart from Jitesh Sharma – was a weak point for them last year. They can plug the hole by playing either Shashank Singh or Ashutosh Sharma, who are both aggressive batters with a penchant for hitting sixes.Based on the training session on match eve, Pant will play as wicketkeeper. There is a toss-up likely between Jake Fraser-McGurk and Tristan Stubbs, who showed his prowess as a finisher in the SA20. Jhye Richardson is with the squad but recovering from a side strain, which Capitals co-owner Parth Jindal had said might rule him out of the initial few games. Capitals will also be without Anrich Nortje, who is still in South Africa.9:21

Which teams make it to the playoffs?

Toss and Impact Player strategy

Punjab Kings: Kings are likely to utilise the same Impact Player combination as last year by benching Prabhsimran Singh when they bowl and having one of their bowlers sit out while batting.Probable XII: 1 Shikhar Dhawan (capt), 2 Jonny Bairstow, , 4 Liam Livingstone, 5 Jitesh Sharma (wk), 6 Ashutosh Sharma/Shashank Singh, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Rahul Chahar, 9 Harpreet Brar, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Harshal Patel, Delhi Capitals: Khaleel Ahmed will start if Capitals bowl first, while Ricky Bhui, who could bolster the lower order, could come in when they batProbable XII: 1 David Warner, 2 Prithvi Shaw, 3 Mitchell Marsh, 4 Rishabh Pant (capt, wk), 5 Jake Fraser-McGurk/Tristan Stubbs, 6 Abishek Porel, , 8 Axar Patel, 9 Lalit Yadav, 10 Kuldeep Yadav, 11 Ishant Sharma,

Stats that matter

• Arshdeep Singh’s economy of 8.48 at the death in the last two IPL seasons is third-best for any bowler who bowled at least 100 balls in that phase
• Since the start of 2020, Axar Patel (6.90) is the third-most economical bowler after Rashid Khan (6.74) and Sunil Narine (6.85), in the IPL
• Across all T20s, Ishant Sharma has dismissed Shikhar Dhawan three times in 31 balls while giving away only 36 runs. Dhawan has a strike rate of 88.5 against Khaleel Ahmed (23 runs in 26 balls, one dismissal)
• David Warner has taken Harshal Patel for 86 runs in 45 balls without being dismissed even once. Warner has a great record against Rahul Chahar as well: 65 runs in 40 balls, no dismissal

Pitch and conditions

In the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Mullanpur ranked fourth on the list of venues with highest overall scoring rates at 8.51 (with a cut-off of five matches). It will be the 36th venue in the IPL and the straight boundaries are roughly 81 yards long, but it is the long square boundaries – around 74 yards – which could play a key factor, given the two-bouncer rule that will be in play in this IPL. The central pitch is likely to have good bounce, though it could be two-paced. The afternoon temperatures will hover in the early 30 degrees (Celsius).

Quotes

“The bowlers have complained a lot over the years that everything is in the batters’ favour, so they’ve got something in their favour now. It’ll be interesting to see how it goes.”
“Jittery, nervous, excited – all of it, but at the same time, just happy, being able to come back to professional cricket. I’m just looking forward to playing my first game tomorrow.”

Uganda beat PNG for their first World Cup win but the co-hosts will present them with a much stiffer challenge at the Providence

Srinidhi Ramanujam08-Jun-20241:56

Badree: Shamar and McCoy can rattle Uganda

Match details

West Indies vs Uganda
June 8, Providence, 7.30pm local

Big picture: Uganda’s players take on their heroes

It’s strange and beautiful that Uganda’s third T20I against a Full-Member nation – they first beat Zimbabwe in Africa Qualifiers to reach the T20 World Cup and then lost to Afghanistan on their World Cup debut – is against West Indies. Irrespective of the result, Saturday will be celebrated and cherished not just in the Ugandan dressing room in Providence but also back home. Some Ugandan players’ role models are West Indians. In batter Simon Ssesazi’s words, some of them “only support West Indies in any format of the game” and it’s a “blessing” to play against them. There is so much love and admiration for the co-hosts of this World Cup – Frank Nsubuga, 43, had named his son Pollard after a certain West Indian legend.West Indies are coming into this game on the back of five successive wins and will be keen to extend that streak. Though they were given a scare by Papua New Guinea (PNG) in their opening match, West Indies eventually got home thanks to Roston Chase’s cameo in the chase.As for Uganda, they are history-makers. They are fighters. Back home, they don’t even have a floodlit facility for practice and so they are not used to playing under lights. Treading in this uncharted territory in their first World Cup appearance, where all of their four Group C matches are played under lights, they suffered a heavy defeat to Afghanistan in their opener. However, Uganda were quick to adjust to the conditions as they overcame PNG in a low-scoring thriller in their next game to secure their first victory in the World Cup.Related

• Nsubuga's bowling, not his age, takes him into the record books

• Uganda's bowlers. Riazat seal their first win in T20 World Cup history

For them, facing co-hosts West Indies will be a much stiffer challenge. If Uganda have played a total of 93 T20Is so far, Nicholas Pooran alone has featured in 89 T20Is. The biggest concern for Uganda going into Saturday’s game will be their batting after they had been bowled out for 58 against Afghanistan and lost seven wickets in a chase of 78 against PNG. Can they challenge the power-packed West Indies at the Providence?

Form guide

West Indies WWWW
Uganda WLWLWMeet 43-year-old Frank Nsubuga, the oldest player in the 2024 T20 World Cup•ICC via Getty Images

In the spotlight – Roston Chase and Riazat Ali Shah

Andre Russell isn’t the only West Indian allrounder Uganda should be wary of. Roston Chase 2.0, has been in exceptional form since being recalled to the T20I side this year. In 2024, he has bowled full quota of four overs in three of the four T20Is, picking up four wickets and conceding less than six runs an over. With the bat, he has scored 37, 32*, 67*, 42* – at a strike rate of 154.78.Riazat Ali Shah, one of Uganda’s most promising talents, made a cautious 33 off 56 to steer a tricky chase after an early collapse against PNG. He has a strike rate of 122.7 in 59 T20Is and will look to find a higher tempo against West Indies.

Team news

West Indies couldn’t accommodate fast bowler Shamar Joseph and batter Shimron Hetmyer in the XI against PNG. Instead, they continued to back Romario Shepherd and Sherfane Rutherford. They might stick with the same XI against Uganda.West Indies (probable XI): 1 Johnson Charles, 2 Brandon King, 3 Nicholas Pooran (wk), 4 Roston Chase, 5 Rovman Powell (capt), 6 Sherfane Rutherford, 7 Andre Russell, 8 Romario Shepherd, 9 Akeal Hosein, 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Gudakesh MotieUganda made three changes for the second game from the XI that played the opener with Ronak Patel (opener), Henry Ssenyondo (left-arm spinner), and Bilal Hassan (medium pacer) sitting out. They brought in two pace options in Juma Miyagi and Kenneth Waiswa and a spin allrounder in Nsubuga. Both Miyagi and Nsubuga played key roles in Uganda’s win against PNG and are likely to retain their spots.Uganda (probable XI): 1 Roger Mukasa, 2 Simon Ssesazi (wk), 3 Robinson Obuya, 4 Riazat Ali Shah, 5 Dinesh Nakrani, 6 Alpesh Ramjani, 7 Juma Miyagi, 8 Brian Masaba (capt), 9 Kenneth Waiswa, 10 Cosmas Kyewuta, 11 Frank NsubugaRovman Powell’s West Indies will look to click into top gear against Uganda•Getty Images

Stats that matter: Pooran hot on Gayle’s heels

• Nicholas Pooran needs 25 runs to surpass Chris Gayle’s tally of 1899 and become West Indies’ highest run-getter in men’s T20Is.
• Pooran and Russell have hit 786 sixes between them in T20s since 2019.
• Uganda’s Alpesh Ramjani has 13 wickets in in six T20Is this year at an economy rate of 4.3.

Pitch and conditions: Another sluggish surface on the cards

The surface in Providence is expected to be slow, so scoring might not be easy once again. Saturday might be cloudy with temperatures hovering around 23 degrees in the evening but there is no threat of rain or thunderstorms.

Quotes

“My game was always one [where] I could always rotate the strike and turn over the strike in the middle overs. But my game has evolved where I have learned and I’ve been practising to finish the game in the back end in terms of the power-hitting and getting stronger and stuff. So, I think that’s what really helped my game to evolve. So that’s made me a better player, yes.”
“Getting our first win against PNG is a dream come true. We never thought we’d win any game and everyone was like, ‘I think they’re just going to play and just come back and sit’. But putting in that good effort against PNG on the big stage, it has been mind-blowing. Kampala is just booming since the day we won, everyone is just calling us legends. I don’t know if we’re legends but yeah, it’s exciting.”

Adi Birrell to take over in 2025 as Hampshire strengthen ties with local Hundred team

ESPNcricinfo staff16-Jan-2025Stephen Fleming has stepped down as Southern Brave’s head coach in the men’s Hundred, citing family reasons. Fleming replaced Mahela Jayawardene in the role ahead of the 2023 season and twice led the Brave to the knockout stages, losing the eliminator in his first year in charge and the final last season.He will be replaced by Adi Birrell, the Hampshire head coach, for the 2025 season, with Hundred franchises growing stronger ties with their host clubs as part of the ongoing privatisation process. Birrell has enjoyed recent success in franchise cricket, leading Sunrisers Eastern Cape to back-to-back SA20 titles.Birrell will become the first county head coach also taking charge of a men’s Hundred team, though several have served as assistant coaches. He will be replaced as Hampshire coach during the Metro Bank Cup, the 50-over competition which runs parallel to the Hundred, but remains in charge for the County Championship and the T20 Blast.Fleming’s resignation avoids a situation in which he would coach a team part-owned by a rival IPL franchise, given his long-running association with Chennai Super Kings. Hampshire were sold to the GMR Group – co-owners of Delhi Capitals – last year and are set to become majority shareholders in the Brave this year.Related

• Richard Gould: ECB 'unapologetic' about attracting top talent to Men's Hundred

• GMR Group 'keen' on Southern Brave investment after securing Hampshire deal

He has coached Chennai since 2009, and has also taken charge of their affiliated franchises in Major League Cricket (Texas Super Kings) and the SA20 (Joburg Super Kings), where he is currently. Fleming said in a statement that stepping down from his role with the Brave would allow him to spend more time at home.”I absolutely loved my time at Southern Brave, working in the Hundred and working with a great group of people at Utilita Bowl,” Fleming said. “We got close to winning a couple of times so it’s difficult to step down but for family reasons I need to be able to dedicate more time to being at home this season. I wish everyone at Southern Brave the best for 2025.”Giles White, who is director of cricket at the Brave and Hampshire, said: “Stephen created an excellent environment for the players and it has been an enjoyable and successful stint with us… In his place we are delighted to welcome Adi Birrell and look forward to seeing him build on the team’s success in 2025.”White and Birrell have until February 24 to work out the core of their squad for 2025, with each team permitted to retain up to 11 players (including one designated central contract player). These can include one direct overseas signing for 2025, with the ECB hopeful that a new top men’s salary of £200,000 will attract some of the world’s best players to the Hundred.The Brave are the fifth Hundred team to recruit a new coach this winter. Justin Langer has replaced Trevor Bayliss at London Spirit’s men, while Ali Maiden (Birmingham Phoenix), Michael Klinger (Manchester Originals) and Lisa Keightley (Northern Superchargers) have taken over from Ben Sawyer, Stephen Parry and Dani Hazell respectively in the women’s competition.

The success of the other batters has papered over Bavuma’s failures, but he must start scoring some runs with the knockouts approaching

Firdose Moonda04-Nov-2023Temba Bavuma is confident that, with South Africa’s campaign at the World Cup entering a crucial stage, he will rediscover the touch that made him enter this tournament as South Africa’s leading run-scorer in ODI cricket this year.With 111 runs from five matches, Bavuma is the least profitable of South Africa’s top six at the World Cup at the moment, and has also scored fewer runs than their No. 7, Marco Jansen, but the form of his team-mates means he does not have to feel the pressure yet. “You always want to be making contributions,” he said in Kolkata ahead of South Africa’s meeting with India. “The other batters are smashing it at the moment, and I take comfort in the fact that I’ve been involved in some partnerships with Quinton [de Kock] up front.”Bavuma and de Kock shared a 108-run stand against Australia in Lucknow, to which Bavuma contributed 35, but none of their other partnerships has topped 38. That 35 is Bavuma’s top score. He has been dismissed by left-arm seamers twice but there isn’t much more of a pattern to his (mis)fortunes other than the obvious – he has just been finding fielders. So, while the numbers say that Bavuma is struggling, some of the shots he has played – think the twin cover drives against New Zealand just before he edged Trent Boult to slip – and the ways in which he has got out suggest that things are not as bad as they may seem and de Kock agrees.Related

• The complex reality of Bavuma's World Cup semi-final

• Before their toughest test yet, South Africa find some love in Kolkata

• Top-of-the-table teams duel in potential blockbuster at Eden Gardens

• Dravid after Hardik exit: 'Enough quality in our top seven to look after itself'

• India vs South Africa – a high-voltage contest between contrasting approaches

“Temba has been batting really well,” de Kock told the media on Friday. “He has looked very solid up front. He has somehow found a way to keep getting out. He is still feeling good about his own game and is very confident. Temba always backs himself, which is a good thing and a good trait to have. He is not fazed. At least I hope he is not – it doesn’t look like he is.”And 24 hours later, Bavuma confirmed that he is, indeed, unfazed. “From my side, maybe it’s just one of those patches again where I am kind of scratching, but I think I’ve got to keep that belief that the opportunity will be there for me to make a big play within the team. That’s where my head is,” he said. “I take a lot of comfort in the fact that we’ve been getting starts in that first ten overs and obviously with the guys being in form, they’ve been able to exploit that and play the way that they’ve played.”But that does not mean there is no expectation of Bavuma and de Kock has predicts that one of the next few games – and South Africa have at least three matches left – will see the best of the captain. “I got a feeling one or two of these games – especially an important game – that’s when he is going to come through for us. That’s Temba Bavuma in a package,” de Kock said.Asked whether the backing of his team-mates is a balm during tough times, Bavuma appeared at his brightest in what could have otherwise been an intimidating press engagement. “I take a lot of confidence from that. That’s something that I feel every day within the team,” he said. “And I think it’s probably due to the fact that there’s a group of batters who’ve been with each other for the last three or four years. We’ve seen each other go through the little ups and the downs and we know that all of us mentally have what it takes to get over the little challenges that we face.”Temba Bavuma has found ways to get out despite looking in good touch•Associated Press

One of those challenges would have been the pre-match press conference. There were more journalists than at any of South Africa’s other matches and one of them was direct in asking whether South Africa have faced their demons.”Have you talked about not choking in this important match?” a reporter asked Bavuma, as there was some awkward shuffling in the room.”I don’t know how to answer that,” Bavuma replied. “I think if we come unstuck tomorrow, I don’t think it’ll be a matter of choking. I doubt you would say that about India as well if they come unstuck that they would choke.”And that may have been the mic-drop. Bavuma is not a hostile or confrontational character but a soft-spoken, thoughtful and intellectual cricketer. And as this World Cup reaches the business end, he is proving to be one who has both internalised the challenges that he faces as the captain of a South African team, with all the history that comes with that role, and as an opening batter, albeit one who is due some runs.”Mentally, I’ve obviously got to keep staying there. There’s still got a lot of cricket to go within this tournament. And I believe that I’ll have a part to play somewhere within the tournament.”

Composed Durham strengthen quarter-finals credentials with fourth win of season

ECB Reporters Network06-Jun-2023 Durham 162 for 6 (Clark 55, Heldreich 3-36) beat Northamptonshire 161 for 7 (Gay 53, Sowter 4-14) by four wicketsNathan Sowter and Graham Clark haunted Northamptonshire Steelbacks for the second time in the Vitality Blast this season after guiding Durham to a four-wicket win at Seat Unique Riverside.Sowter followed his figures of 5 for 15 against the Steelbacks in the reverse fixture with another brilliant spell of 4 for 14 to limit the visitors to 161 for 7 from their 20 overs. Emilio Gay top-scored with a career-best 53, but he lacked support from the rest of the line-up to produce a daunting total for the hosts to chase.Clark delivered an emphatic performance at the top of the innings against the Steelbacks following his century from the opener. His knock of 55 provided the foundation for the chase that was threatened by three wickets from Freddie Heldreich. But, Durham held their composure to strengthen their credentials for a quarter-final place with their fourth win of the season.The visitors solidly started in the powerplay without dominating the Durham attack. Gay was the early pacesetter, impressing with his striking down the ground, including back-to-back boundaries against Luke Robinson. Chris Lynn made a slow start to his knock but brought up the fifty stand with a fine cut behind point to the fence.After clearing the rope for the first time, the Australian was starting to find his range, only to fall for 24 to a brilliant diving catch from Liam Trevaskis at long-off to hand Sowter the breakthrough. Sowter was then responsible for the second wicket as Josh Cobb got himself in a mighty tangle after surviving an lbw shout and was run out by Ashton Turner.Gay continued to play the anchor role and brought up his maiden T20 fifty from 38 balls to position his side for a late surge over the 150-run mark. But Sowter continued to torment the Steelbacks line-up after taking five wickets in the reverse fixture.He prised out David Willey and bowled Saif Zaib to put the clamps on the visitors. The leg-spinner ended his spell with his fourth scalp as Gay was caught on the boundary for 53, taking his ninth wicket in two games against Northants for the cost of just 29 runs.The Steelbacks scrambled to a competitive total of 161 for 7 courtesy of useful late cameos from AJ Tye and Tom Taylor.Northants missed a golden opportunity to set the Durham chase back in the second over when Taylor put down a simple chance at short midwicket to dismiss Alex Lees. The Durham skipper and Clark surged past their fifty partnership at the end of the powerplay, moving ahead of the required rate courtesy of a huge six by the latter.Heldreich earned brief respite for the visitors by breaking the stand with his first ball, pinning Lees lbw for 30.Clark followed in the footsteps of his team-mate Sowter by defying the Steelbacks again. After scoring his maiden T20 century at Wantage Road in the first match of the competition, he proved equally destructive on home soil, powering his way to fifty from 25 balls.Heldreich kept the visitors in with a shout of hauling back the hosts working in tandem with a miserly spell from Saif Zaib, removing Michael Jones and the key wicket of Clark for 55. Zaib then cranked up the pressure when Ollie Robinson was caught on the fence, ending his four-over spell for one for 17.Turner eased the tension for the hosts and all but carried them over the line with a vital knock of 31 from 18. Liam Trevaskis wrapped up proceedings by smashing Tye over the rope before the contest was ended by a wide.