Alex Corbett hit 118, Freddie Heldreich struck 80 and Aadi Sharma 79 as Northamptonshire 2XI went big on Day 1 against Loughborough UCCE.

After winning the toss, 2XI captain Aadi Sharma decided to bat and the side opened up with Arush Buchake and Krish Patel.

It was a fairly quick start from the pair, sitting at 30/0 after five overs. Buchake fell in the sixth over however, as George Gowler dismissed the opener for 9.

Aadi Sharma joined Patel and the pair brought up Northamptonshire’s 50 in 9.4 overs but five overs later, Patel was caught after a well-made 48 from 47 deliveries.

Jordan Strydom was in at 4 and he shared a strong partnership with Sharma and at Lunch the 2XI were 141/2 with Sharma on 49 and Strydom at the other end on 13.

After lunch, Sharma continued his strong start to the season by bringing up his 50 in 99 balls, striking nine 4s and one 6.

The 2XI surpassed 150 in the 29th over with Sharma and Strydom sharing a 98-run partnership before Strydom was caught for 17.

Sharma was dismissed shortly after for a excellent 79 from 93 and that dismissal brought Alex Corbett to the crease.

Corbett looked strong in the middle and made use of the good conditions, bringing up a half century of his own from 56 balls.

Corbett and Freddie Heldreich shared another valuable partnership and the runs continued to be piled on as Heldreich was the next batter to bring up a half century,

The pair rapidly increased the run rate and together hit a massive partnership worth 163 from just 140 deliveries and the impressive striking also saw Corbett hit 21 boundaries on his way to an exceptional 118 before he was caught by Allinson.

The 2XI struck 236 runs in the session and were 377/5 at tea with Heldreich (61) and and Hayward (6) at the crease.

In the 69th over, the 400 was brought up and the runs didn’t stop there as Hayward hit a 33-ball 50 with ten 4s.

Freddie Heldreich also looked impressive, hitting 80 from 104 balls. The 2XI declared late in the day on 491/8, leaving 12 overs in the day to have a bowl.

Ben Sanderson took the new ball as he continued to work his way back from injury but Loughborough UCCE made a rapid start, ending the day 82/0 off just 12 overs, trailing by 409 runs heading into the second day.

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