Hunts claimed a dramatic friendly success when pipping Northants Academy by just two runs in their first outing of the summer.

Hunts elected to bat at Peterborough Town CC last Sunday after winning the toss and Warboys skipper Matt Duncan contributed well with a swift 55 as they reached 254-9 in a high-scoring clash.

And that proved to be just enough for victory as the Northants youngsters came up just short on 252-8 in reply.

They got off to a good start with an opening-wicket stand of 126, but a collapse followed with four wickets falling for the addition of just nine runs at one stage. Kimbolton’s overseas ace Ruben Claassen spun his way to 3-47 to keep the pressure on the Academy side who required 12 runs from the final over to snatch victory.

But they were only able to add nine as Hunts prevailed.