Rampaul, Franklin sink Northern Districts

Seamer Ravi Rampaul’s telling spell and all-rounder James Franklin’s quickfire cameo carried the Barbados Tridents to a solid six-wicket victory over the Northern Districts – in Tuesday’s rain-affected Champions League Twenty20 Group B fixture at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore.

Inclement weather reduced the fixture to 19 over per side, with the Northern Knights from New Zealand posting a modest total of 135 for eight. Opener Anton Devcich top-scored en route to a brisk 47, while Rampaul snared figures of three for 34.

Barbados’ reply was rather stop-start, and required Franklin to form the glue of the middle order. He struck 33 not out from just 25 balls, ensuring triumph with two balls to spare during an important, unbroken partnership alongside Zimbabwean Elton Chigumbura.

The result pushed the Caribbean outfit to third position in the five-team Group B, while the New Zealand unit finished in fifth spot. Neither qualified for the semi-finals, which will be contested by Kolkata, Chennai, Kings XI Punjab and Hobart on Thursday. The final will be played on Saturday.