Northamptonshire’s Levi ‘pays back’ team-mates with T20 hundred

The South African put together a superb Twenty20 innings, patient at times and brutal at others, as he made 110 from 62 balls and sent the Steelbacks on their way to 206-3.

It set the platform for a 17-run win which very much keeps hopes of progress alive in the Friends Life t20.

But Levi was modest about his achievement after reaching a second hundred in this format - his first came for his country against New Zealand last year - and thanked his colleagues for their help during what he feels is a stuttering start to his career with the County.

“It has been a bit of a testing one,” he said of his first few games with the Steelbacks.

“The boys have been by behind me and have been backing me up.

“They could obviously see there was a bit of frustration there from not getting the big scores.

“I’ve had two starts but just kicked on.

“They were just telling me that today was my day and to go out and get some runs.

“Thankfully I did that and maybe paid them back.”

He certainly kicked on at Cheltenham.

After a measured start he then powered his way to a hundred as he and Steven Crook added 64 in the last four overs.

It was almost the perfect innings in this kind of cricket.

Levi explained: “It wasn’t the easiest up front.

“I’ve found in England that the new ball really does a bit in the first couple of overs and it wasn’t the sort of wicket you could just come in and slog from the first ball.

“They bowled quite well in parts as well which meant we had to be a little patient at times.

“I also had a couple of things go my way so you just make sure you take advantage.”