WARWICKSHIRE V SACA MATCH REPORT – 08 to 11 June 2026

RESULT: MATCH DRAWN

SCORECARD

SACA and Warwickshire endured a frustrating four days at the Edgbaston Community Sports Ground this week, as heavy rain showers caused havoc over the scheduled four days of the clash.

Warwickshire, with plans on giving their first eleven players some red-ball action ahead of their forthcoming return to County Championship action this week, featured a star-studded side, including a strong first eleven seam attack of Ethan Bamber, Keith Barker, Nathan Gilchrist and Oliver Hannon-Dalby, although they and the rest of both sides’ players were left frustrated, as heavy and persistent overnight rain gave the umpires little option but to abandon any plans for play on the opening day without a ball being bowled.

Day two’s forecast promised a little better, although not much, and with Warwickshire electing to bowl first, their seamers eventually got the opportunity to get some overs into their legs.

With the weather still playing its part, the SACA openers coped well with a couple of morning rain interruptions, as Aum Patel and Rahul Tangirala set about building a strong opening partnership. 59 runs were on the board before Tangirala fell, pulling Nathan Gilchrist to deep backward square leg, departing for 31.

Another 45 runs were added for the second wicket before Patel also fell, trapped in front to spinner Eddie Miller for 42, with the score on 104 for 2.

Ajay Khunti, who’d come in at three, continued his good form this season, adding 105 for the third wicket with Feroze Khushi, before the latter was adjudged lbw to Joe Thorne for 35, with SACA now on 209 for 3.

In that partnership with Khushi, Khunti had brought up his half century off 91 balls, and he continued to build, adding 31 with Sinel Gunarathne (21), 16 with Amogh Karpe (4), before he brought up his hundred off 165 balls in the evening session, in a superb innings in which he’d hit 13 boundaries and one maximum.

His eventual departure for 122, scored off 184 balls, saw the SACA total now on 287 for 6, before a declaration came soon after, with SACA posting 293 for 6 dec, with Mohammed Rizvi (17*) and Hamidullah Qadri (3*) the not out batters.

This gave the SACA bowlers a short burst of 12 overs at the Warwickshire openers, with Jaskaran Singh striking to remove Bamber, caught by Khushi at slip for 19, before stumps were drawn on day two with the hosts on 47 for 1, trailing SACA by 246 runs.

Day three again proved to be a frustrating rain interrupted affair, as only 18 overs play were possible all day, although that did give Singh the opportunity to strike again to pick up his second wicket, dismissing Vansh Jani for a well worked 58, with the former SACA player top edging a pull shot straight up to a grateful Singh to execute the caught and bowled.

With more rain around, stumps were drawn early, at a little after 2.15pm, with Warwickshire on 145 for 2, trailing by 148 runs as the conditions gave the umpires little option but to call a halt to the day’s play.

Endless heavy overnight rain fell ahead of day four, and arriving early at the ground on the final day, it didn’t take the umpires long to make the call, abandoning play for the day and ending the game in a draw.

Frustration all round for both sides, however plenty of positives to take forward – not least of all Khunti’s brilliant hundred, and another two wickets for left-arm quick Singh.

SACA HIGHLIGHTS FROM HAMPSHIRE MATCH

Batting:                                                                        

Ajay Khunti                                  122 (184)

Aum Patel                                     42 (111)

Bowling:

Jaskaran Singh                            5-0-30-2