NORTHAMPTONSHIRE v SACA (50 OVER) MATCH REPORT - 28 JULY 2026

RESULT: SACA WON BY 5 WICKETS

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SACA’s Men’s squad were back in fifty-over action again today, in the first of two back-to-back clashes against county opponents this week, when they took on Northamptonshire at Campbell Park in Milton Keynes ahead of a clash against Gloucestershire tomorrow at Leamington Spa Cricket Club.

The county side were no match for SACA on the day, as the Academy wrapped up a comprehensive win by the margin of 5 wickets, seeing them secure their third fifty-over victory against county opposition in the last four games.

A superb performance with the ball from SACA made all the difference today, followed up with a composed run chase to reach the victory target, in what was a thoroughly comprehensive and deserved victory for SACA.

MATCH REPORT

With Northamptonshire winning the toss and electing to bat first, any hopes they had of building a solid start were dashed in just the second over of the innings, as Eesa Nadeem removed opener Sharma for a first ball duck.

His fellow opener Miller and number three, King, restored some order for the hosts, taking the score to 48, before King became Nadeem’s second victim, nicking one behind to Dylan Rawal to depart for 18.

48 for 2 became 71 for 3, as Sai Boorghu got in amongst the wickets, clean bowling the Northants’ number four, van der Merwe, for 10 in the eleventh over of the innings, and now was the time that the SACA attack really pressed home their advantage, picking up the next seven Northants’ wickets quickly, to dismiss the hosts in only 26.2 overs, for just 133 runs.

It was an exceptional bowling display from the SACA attack, with Boorghu adding a further two wickets to his tally on the day, finishing with fine figures of 3 for 29 from six overs. With his wily spin, Thilan Walallawita bowled with great control and discipline, returning figures of 2 for 28 from 8 overs, whilst Nadeem’s opening spell delivered figures of 2 for 31 from 5 overs. It was left to Shareeq Sheikh to finish things off, as the spinner picked up 3 for 12 from 3.2 overs, including the key wicket of opener Miller, whose top scoring knock of 50 saw him standing alone in offering any meaningful resistance for the hosts.

In reply, SACA wasted no time at all getting after their target, scoring at a run rate of almost eight an over in the first ten overs, reaching 78 for 2 in the opening power play overs.

The wickets to fall were those of Rawal, who was trapped in front by left-arm quick Louw for a single, whilst number three, Ajay Khunti, scored freely for his 32, which came off just 28 deliveries.

Daniyal Khan (44 off 36) and Aum Patel (2 off 9) perished in the twelfth and thirteenth overs respectively, with the SACA score progressing well – now onto 86 for 4 and needing just another 48 runs to win, with all the time in the world at their disposal.

Viv Hassen came and went next, when just 10 runs more had been added, with the score on 96 for 5, and at this stage Northamptonshire were starting to look interested again, knowing that another breakthrough or two would get them right back into the contest!

Sinel Gunarathne and Sheikh came together and steadied the ship however and batted both sensibly yet positively to take SACA to a superb win.

They got over the line in the 21^st over of the innings, having added an unbeaten 41 for the sixth wicket, with Gunarathne finishing on 30* from 20 balls and Sheikh on 10* from 18.

It was a fantastic performance from SACA and one that will give them plenty of confidence going into tomorrow, when they’ll face Gloucestershire in another fifty over encounter.

SACA HIGHLIGHTS FROM NORTHANTS 50-OVER MATCH…

Batting:                                                                        

Daniyal Khan               44 (36) 

Sinel Gunarathne        30* (20) 

Bowling:

Shareeq Sheikh           3.2-0-12-3

Sai Boorghu                 6-0-29-3

Thilan Walallawita     8-0-28-2

Eesa Nadeem               5-0-31-2