Five wickets from Justin Broad and a century from Hassan Azad helped the 2XI secure a dramatic victory in the final over against the South Asian Cricket Academy.
SACA started the day 66/2 and leading by 68 runs in their second innings with Zen Malik and Arav Shetty at the crease.
Justin Broad struck in just his second over of the day, giving Malik an almost unplayable delivery as the all rounder forced an edge to give Oldershaw a simple catch behind the stumps. Broad then struck again just three balls later, this time bowling Vikai Kelly for a duck to leave SACA 75/4.
Two overs later another wicket fell, this time to Simon Kerrigan, as the spinner trapped Amrit Basra LBW for seven.
After a troubling start to the day, SACA rebuilt the innings thanks to Arav Shetty and Tahirkheli, who put on a 46 run partnership. Broad picked up his fourth wicket of the game and broke the partnership with the dismissal of Tahirkheli for 30, as he attempted to pull Broad away to the boundary but instead found Hughes-Rowlands in the deep.
Broad claimed his fifth wicket in his next over, this time removing Shetty in similar fashion to Tahirkheli. Shetty picked out Prideaux on the leg side after attempting to pull Broad and the fielder made no mistake.
SACA found themselves 130/7 after the early flurry of wickets but Roshan Balaji and Hishaam Khan built up a 45 run partnership to push the SACA lead towards 250. Raphael Weatherall struck however in the penultimate over before lunch, dismissing Balaji after he edged one through to Simon Kerrigan at second slip, who took a sharp catch.
SACA began the afternoon session 179/8, with a lead of 247, with Hishaam Khan unbeaten on 21 and Bilal on 4.
In the third over after lunch, Alex Russell got his first wicket of the innings as Bilal attempted a slog onto the leg side but he found Ethan Rice who took a smart catch in the deep. Russell then picked up his second to round off the SACA innings, leaving the 2XI needing 267 runs in their second innings for victory.
The 2XI’s chase started with Hassan Azad and George Hargrave beginning brightly but Hargrave fell halfway during the 10th over after a delivery from Bilal kept low and trapped the opener LBW.
Azad built on his bright start as he worked his way to a well-made 49 before tea, along with Justin Broad who finished the afternoon session unbeaten on 29.
The pair continued to build on their 63 run partnership after tea and Hassan Azad brought up his half century in the 22nd over, hitting six 4s and one 6.
Justin Broad pushed on after restart and also brought up his half century five overs later, with the all-rounder’s 50 coming from 53 balls and with eight 4s on the way.
Azad and Broad brought up their 100 partnership in the same over, going at just under a run a ball as the 2XI motored to 128/1 by the 27th over. The pair continued to score, and going into the last hour of play, the batting sidr were 185/1 in the 40th over, needing 82 runs to secure victory.
The following over, Hassan Azad brought up his century with a delicate flick that raced away to the boundary, with the opener striking twelve 4s and one 6 on his way to 100 off 120 deliveries.
SACA provided a late comeback however, as the side removed Broad (86) and Azad (116) in quick succession to leave the 2XI 236/3.
The wickets continued to fall as Northamptonshire’s batters kept attacking to chase down the target. The bowling side took another four wickets in the space of eight overs as the 2XI found themselves 263/7 heading into the final over of the day and the game.
Simon Kerrigan was run out in the final over but Raphael Weatherall found the boundary off the following delivery to secure a two wicket victory for the 2XI with one ball to spare.