James Sales impressed with five wickets as Northamptonshire 2XI London Schools’ secured a dramatic one run win over London Schools’.

Sales lead the line with the ball and finished with figures of 5/33 after his 10 overs at Finchley CC.

Luke Procter picked up the final wicket with London Schools’ finishing 169 all out chasing the 2XI’s 170.

After winning the toss, the 2XI decided to bat first, with James Sales and Aum Raykar opening up.

It was a difficult start for the openers as they both fell in the opening 6 overs, Sales bowled for 8 and Raykar hitting one straight to Ethan Rice at cover for 12.

The tough start continued as Luke Procter and Rob Keogh fell in consecutive balls and the 2XI were 34/4 by the end of the powerplay.

Charlie Oldershaw and Arush Buchake led a bit of a fightback for the 2XI, putting on a 42-run partnership before Oldershaw was bowled for 18.

At the halfway mark, the 2XI were still struggling with the conditions and the London Schools’ attack, finding themselves 113/6 after 25 overs.

A half century from Jack Bates was the standout for the batting side but the 2XI failed to progress much further and ended up finishing 170 all out after 39.1 overs.

With a smaller than hoped total, the 2XI needed to put immediate pressure on. James Sales made the perfect start, bowling Berlusconi with the fifth ball of the innings.

The early wickets continued with Weatherall removing removing Nico Reifer in the 4th over and Sales striking again in the 5th, getting an edge of Broderick.

In the 7th over, Sales picked up his third wicket, nipping one back to beat the defence of opener Moughal. At the end of the powerplay, London School’s found themselves in a similar position to the 2XI and were 28/4.

A returning George Weldon picked up his first wicket as Hood flashed at one, only to find Buchake at first slip. Two overs later and Sales picked up his fourth, with Hughes-Rowlands leaving a straight one that went crashing into the stumps.

At the halfway stage, London Schools’ were 93/6, needing 78 runs to secure an impressive win at Finchley CC.

James Sales secured his five-wicket haul in the 27th over, forcing an edge from George Taylor-Yeates, with Charlie Oldershaw accepting the catch behind the stumps.

Rob Keogh picked up the eight and ninth wicket, with the eight wicket courtesy of a brilliant diving catch from Oldershaw after a looping edge to his left hand side.

After a 50 partnership for the last wicket between Imman and Fowler, London Schools looked likely to pick up an impressive win but Luke Procter clean bowled Imman to secure a tense one run victory.

The 2XI now have two consecutive games at The County Ground, starting with a 50 over game against London Schools’ on Friday then a 3 day game against the South Asian Cricket Academy (SACA) starting 12th August.