Kent’s Sam Northeast hits century as South beat North to claim inaugural one-day series
Kent skipper Sam Northeast struck an unbeaten century as South beat North by 47 runs to seal victory in the inaugural one-day series between the two sides in Dubai.
Northeast finished 118 not out as South racked up 346-6 from their 50 overs, while Middlesex batsman Dawid Malan and Hampshire all-rounder Liam Dawson hit half-centuries and James Vince 46.
Yorkshire’s Tim Bresnan top-scored for North with 74 as opener Ben Duckett notched 64, although a plethora of starts failed to materialise into anything more substantial as they only mustered 299-9.
South’s triumph built on Friday’s mauling of the same opposition and gave them an unassailable lead in the three-match series prior to tomorrow’s final showdown at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Northeast played for England under-19s in 2009 but has been overlooked for international recognition since, although his 104-ball innings, which included 12 fours and a six, would not have harmed his chances of flickering on the radar of selectors.
Dawson, who featured for England during their Twenty20 clashes with India in January but has not played a one-day international since September, also weighed in with a hefty knock.
The 27-year-old cracked three maximums and five fours in his 68-delivery stay at the crease, and shared a match-defining 170-run partnership in little more than 23 overs with Northeast.
There was also further joy for opener Malan, who struck an undefeated ton in the first match between the teams on Friday. He again flourished with a 12-boundary assault in his score of 78.
Test batsman Duckett led the North reply with 64, while fellow England player Keaton Jennings, Lancashire’s Liam Livingstone and Joe Clarke of Worcestershire all failed to capitalise after making scores in the twenties.
Bresnan provided late resistance with a typically barnstorming performance, although by that stage North’s fate had been sealed. Seamers Steven Finn and Tom Curran, together with Dawson and Malan, claimed two wickets apiece.