Levi to join Northamptonshire for Friends Life t20

In what has been a week of rush signings for the Friends Life t20 competition that begins on June 26, Richard Levi, the South African batsman, has been signed by Northamptonshire for this summer's campaign. Levi will join the squad before their first match against Gloucestershire on June 28. This is the club's second overseas signing, after Cameron White joined in February.

Northamptonshire head coach, David Ripley, was optimistic about Levi's addition to the squad, "We are delighted to welcome Richard to the County Ground as he will add much needed firepower to the top of our order.

"His willingness to jump on a plane and get over here at very short notice is testament to his desire to play not just for us, but to try and force himself back into international contention - something we hope this stint at Northants (Northamptonshire) will help him achieve.

"We are looking forward to Richard joining Cameron White here at the County Ground as we go all out for a place in the latter stages of the Friends Life t20."

Levi has featured in 13 T20Is and 78 Twenty20 matches for the likes of Cape Cobras, Mumbai Indians and Somerset. He scored the fastest century in T20 international history off just 45 balls in only his second international appearance. He also hit a record 13 sixes during the unbeaten knock.