A magnificent 113 not out by Saif Zaib guided Northamptonshire to a convincing 7 wicket win against London Schools Cricket Association in the first of two T20s yesterday at Wantage Road.
LSCA put on a respectable total of 162/7 from their 20 overs after winning the toss and electing to bat under clear skies at Wantage Road, with batsman Lachlan Shaw top scoring with 53 off 24 deliveries. Shaw and Nabil Moughal added a partnership of 67, setting Northamptonshire 2XI 163 to win.
All six bowlers evenly shared the wickets, with the final dismissal coming from a Boorghu run out.
Northamptonshire however found themselves in early trouble, as Sam Burgess and Gus Miller were dismissed in consecutive deliveries by Moughal, leaving them 4/2 by the end of the first over.
Saif Zaib came into bat at number 4 and went straight to work on the London Schools bowling attack.
Zaib and Justin Broad put on a partnership of 88 from 56 balls to quickly put Northamptonshire on the front foot. After Broad departed for 35, Zaib continued his attack, demonstrating some remarkable power hitting around the ground, as he ended up with 11 fours and 8 sixes on his way to an outstanding 113 off just 47 deliveries.
Zaib comfortably hit the winning runs with a towering final 6, completing the run chase in 15.2 overs and only 3 wickets falling.
In the second game of the day at The County Ground, Northamptonshire proved too strong again for London Schools Cricket Assocation, this time winning by 63 runs.
Batting first, Northamptonshire made amends for their early wobble in Game 1 as trialists Sam Burgess and Will Masojada put on a clinical partnership of 103 for the first wicket before Burgess fell for 53 from 37 deliveries.
Trialist Justin Broad came to the crease at number 3, picking up where Burgess left off, scoring a quick fire 37 from 18 deliveries, including 2 fours and 3 sixes. Broad and Masojada put on a partnership of 60 before Broad was dismissed with two overs to go.
Fresh from his unbeaten century in the first game, Saif Zaib continued to punish the bowling, hitting 25 from 11 balls. Northamptonshire setting 200 for the visitors to chase in Game 2.
Northamptonshire made a strong start at defending their total, reducing London Schools to 20-3 from the first 4 overs, with Ramon Bailey taking a wicket in each of his first two overs and Zaib showing he’s not just a batsman as he castled Attenborough.
Harry Broderick brought some stability to the London Schools innings, hitting 59 from 36 deliveries as he joined Rohail Imman in sharing a partnership of 79 runs for the fourth wicket.
Broderick was eventually removed by Alex Russell and the batting side never really got going after that. Adding 37 runs in 8 overs after Broderick was dismissed, resulting in a final score of 136-6 from their 20 overs, 63 runs short of the Northamptonshire target.