Adam Fox hit a remarkable 23 off the final over of the second game to ensure that Northamptonshire 2XI won both T20’s against the South Asian Cricket Academy.
In game one, Gus Miller hit 90 and took three wickets to help secure a comprehensive 85-run win, while Fox’s heroics in game two helped secure a dramatic three-wicket win on the last ball.
Having arrived this week in preparation for the Vitality Blast, Chris Lynn played in both games to gain some valuable time in the middle.
Game 1:
SACA won the toss and decided to bowl at the cinch County Ground, with Miller and Lynn opening up. It was a fast start with seven being seven boundaries hit before Lynn departed in the fourth over at 40/1.
Miller was joined by David Willey, who was fresh off the back of a match winning 77 against Somerset 2XI. The pair made use of the remaining overs in the powerplay and were 63/1 after six overs.
Miller continued to be dismissive of anything that came his way and he brought up his half century in just 23 balls.
The pair continued to punish the opposition and at the halfway mark, the 2XI found themselves 118/1. The 100 partnership was brought up in the 12th over from 48 balls but Willey fell in the following over for a quick-fire 46 from 26.
Miller continued to be aggressive but unfortunately fell in the 15th over after an excellent 90. His innings included fifteen 4s and one 6.
Aadi Sharma and Stuart van der Merwe accelerated the 2XI past 200 with a 61-run partnership off just 30 balls. van der Merwe hit three massive leg side sixes to finish on 38 from 17, while Sharma hit 27 from 19 to guide to 2XI to 233/3.
David Willey got the Steelbacks off to a flying start as he took two wickets in the opening over to reduce SACA to 10/2. Willey then struck again in his next over as Malik hit one to a diving Rob Keogh.
Another wicket fell in the powerplay as George Scrimshaw had Khunti caught by Sharma on the leg side boundary.
Patel (44) and Perera (31) provided some resistance and fight for SACA but wickets continued to fall and SACA were all out in the 17th over. Scrimshaw finished with four wickets, while Willey and Miller took three apiece.
Game 2:
In an uncontested toss, SACA batted first but it was the Steelbacks who once again got off to a fast start with the ball. Willey removed Rawal first ball, while Tiaan Louw had HM Khan caught by Baluja in just the third over.
SACA recovered well and finished the powerplay 66/3. They continued to accelerate and were 108/5 at the halfway point. The Steelbacks looked to reduce the scoring but 32 from Malik, 22 from Rizvi and 20 from Khunti helped SACA get to 175/7 at the end of the 20 overs. Louw recorded the best figures of all the Northamptonshire bowlers, finishing with 5/30 from 3.5 overs. The pacey left armer caused problems all day and was duly rewarded in the second game.
Scrimshaw and Keogh took two wickets apiece while Willey finished with a sole wicket.
Looking to chase, the 2XI found themselves in a tricky position at 18/2 after the early loss of Miller and Willey. The wickets continued to tumble and at 32/4, Lynn and Keogh were tasked with the rebuild.
The pair played smartly to keep Northamptonshire in the game and were smart with their play, accelerating when required and respecting good deliveries.
Lynn chose to accelerate just after the halfway point, smashing two sixes into the leg side, one of which landed in the upper tier of the Spencer Pavilion.
Lynn brought up his half century in the 13th over but when he departed two overs later for 61 from 41, the 2XI needed a big finish to secure a win. 33 from Keogh and a quick-fire 17 from Dom Leech meant that heading into the last over, the 2XI required 23.
Up steps Academy prospect Adam Fox, who hits a six down the ground then an inventive switch hit for four to put the pressure back on the bowler.
After a dot ball, Fox decided it was time to push and he hit back-to-back sixes down the ground. With the scores level, Fox skipped down the ground and hit the ball over cover to secure a brilliant three-wicket win.