Academy player Jordan Strydom smashed 131, backed up by 53 from Freddie Heldreich wasn’t enough as Loughborough UCCE completed a thrilling final day run chase to secure a six-wicket win.
Having ended Day 2 90/2 with Heldreich and Strydom at the crease on a 43-run partnership, the pair continued their good start by putting on another 56 runs before Heldreich was caught shortly after reaching his half century.
After a century on Day 1, Alex Corbett joined Strydom and they continued to up the rate as the 50 partnership was brought up in the 49th over at a run a ball.
In the 56th over, Strydom reached his century in 136 balls, hitting nine 4s and four 6s.
The 60th over proved key however as the 137-run partnershup was broken with Strydom (131) and Corbet (47) both dismissed in the over. The two wickets changed the course of the game as the 2XI went from 283/3 to 293/8, at which they declared, leaving Loughborough UCCE needing 367 to win from 58 overs, just over 6.3 runs an over.
On a pitch that had produced big reward for the batters throughout the three days, the Loughborough second innings got off to a flyer thanks to Meadows and Weston. Knowing they needed to score quick, Meadows hit a 28-ball half century to propel Loughborough to 83/0 after 10 overs.
After 24 overs, tea came around and Loughborough were 154/1, with Ramesh claiming the only wicket, bowling Weston for 43.
The batting side required 213 runs in the final session to win the match with Meadows 80 off 69 and Light 31 from 27.
In the 26th over, Meadows took 22 runs off it and brought up his century in 75 balls, with 90 of those runs coming from boundaries.
Meadows was dismissed with Lougborough on 230, but Light also brough up a century from 85 deliveries.
Meadows and Light had caused most of the damage, leaving Aldred (40) and Ndlela (32*) to help Loughborough to victory after a thrilling three days of scoring.
To see the scorecard from across the three days, click here