Deadly duo can fire Town to a title success

Round-up

Peterborough Town captain David Clarke believes he has a title-winningopeningbowling partnership at his disposal.

Joe Dawborn (5-25) and Jamie Smith (4-26) bundled Rushton out for 54 last weekend to set up a nine-wicket Northants Premier Division win.

AndRushtonarenotoneof those teamswhohangaround the bottom of the table like a bad smell every season.

They’d won their previous five completed top-flight matches and started the day just four points behind Town.

“We bowled very well,” Clarke stated. “Joe and Jamie are bowling brilliantly as a partnership.

“Joe was back to his best, bowling quickly and moving theballbothways, whileJamie is bowling with so muchaccuracy and discipline,batsmen are having to take too many risks to get anyrunsfromhim.

“We need our seamers to bowlwellthis summertohave a chance to win the league. If Joe and Jamie keep this form up we will go very close.”

Rushton were not helped by attending the wedding of captain Bradley Armer the day before the game. They batted as though they’d celebrated fully and not one of them reached double figures against Town’s rampant attack.

Town lost Ajaz Akhtar in thefirstoveroftheirreply, but Clarke (22no) and Asim Butt (33no) saw them home without further loss.

It was an excellent weeknd for Town’s top two sides as they both enjoyed success on Saturday and Sunday.

Teenager Kieran Judd (69no) batted with great ma- turity and common sense to steer Town seconds to a sixwicket win at home to Isham in Northants Division One.

Richard Kendall (4-37) had bowled best as Isham recovered from 82-6 to 181 all-out.

Town firsts beat Barnack by three wickets in Rutland Division Onethanksmainlyto six wickets from Balaji Ganesan. His victims as Barnack posted 181 included Butt who made 49 for his Sunday side.

M a r c u s H o wa r d h a d dropped Butt on nought, but wenttomake66ofTown’ssuccessful reply.

Townsecondsbeat Sawtry byeightwicketsinRutlandDivisionFouras15year-oldSufyanIqbal(4-15) andSohailHyatt (98no) delivered terrific individual performances.

Thirteen year- ol d Jai Venugopal also played well for his 33.

Jamie Smith .