Josh Cobb hit an astonishing 157 off just 95 deliveries to guide Northamptonshire 2XI to a six-wicket victory against the South Asian Cricket Academy at Dunstable Town Cricket Club.
Having won the toss, the 2XI elected to bowl as Ramon Bailey and Gus Miller got the game underway.
Bailey was the first to strike, forcing a top edge from Savin Perera to give Rohan Mehmi a simple catch.
The South Asian Cricket Academy didn’t let the early wicket affect them as Bhula and Mohammed put on a 151 run partnership to guide the batting side to 171-1 in the 30th over.
Freddie Heldreich was the one to break the partnership, getting one to turn past the bat of Bhula to offer Buchake behind the stumps the chance for a sharp stumping.
The batting side continued to make it hard for the 2XI bowlers but two quick wickets from Heldreich and one from Raphael Weatherall restricted SACA to 265-5 in the 44th over. SACA finished the last five overs strongly however, putting on 40 runs and leaving Northamptonshire 2XI with a total of 332 to chase.
Mohammed was the pick of the batsmen for the South Asian Cricket Academy, hitting a brilliant 114 off 120 deliveries with 15 boundaries on the way.
Hassan Azad and Rohan Mehmi opened the batting for the 2XI and immediately got to work chasing down the target by putting on a firm 67 run partnership within the first 10 overs.
However, on the final delivery of the tenth, Hassan Azad fell for 28 after hitting a low full toss to midwicket.
Josh Cobb was in at three and wasted no time in taking to the bowling attack.
In just 34 deliveries, Cobb hit four 4s and four 6s to bring up his fifty with Rohan Mehmi also bringing up his half century at the other end off 53 deliveries. The power hitting didn’t stop there, with Cobb hitting his next 29 balls for 50 runs, reaching his 100 off 66 balls and with 16 boundaries.
Cobb carried on his relentless assault, hitting 7 more boundaries before being removed in the 44th over for a brutal 157 off 95 deliveries with twelve 4s and eleven 6s.
Nico Reifer and Arush Buchake took the 2XI to the target, winning by six wickets with five overs to spare.