Northamptonshire and Cardiff UCCE played out a productive draw on Day 3 in the final act before the County Championship season begins.
After a heavily rain affected second day, the away side resumed on 186-4 and added 29 runs before a James Sales beauty took Joe Willis’ off stump, one short of his half century.
Henry Hurle continued in rich fashion, resuming on 55 and moving seemingly comfortably to three-figures, before Calvin Harrison produced a moment of magic and ripped a turning delivery past the defenses with Hurle stranded on 99.
With both overnight batters dismissed, Cardiff had a lead of 29 with three wickets remaining and reached 315-7 at lunch.
A handy contribution of 60 by Caniston Gunaratnam pushed the University side further into the lead throughout the afternoon before Harrison picked up two more wickets. He removed Alex Russell and Joe Davies before Saif Zaib ended Gunaratnam’s resistance as Cardiff were bowled out for 343, 61 ahead of Northamptonshire.
With the game petering out into well-competed draw as the match neared its final session, Ricardo Vasconcelos and Rob Keogh enjoyed crucial time in the middle, putting on 81 for the first wicket either side of tea.
Vasconcelos retired unbeaten on a fluent 48 whilst Keogh contributed with 45. With the home team ahead of Cardiff at 5pm, the players shook hands and concluded a productive warm-up match, with Northamptonshire closing 150-4 on the final day, 89 in front. Sales and Harrison finished as the not out batters.
Darren Lehmann’s side get underway in the County Championship against Lancashire this Friday. Play is due to start at 11am at Wantage Road.