Town are back in control of the title race after tense victory

Peterborough Town’s nervewracking win over Finedon in the battle of the top two in the Northants Premier Division last Sunday was a game for the purists rather than those who lap up gimmicky slogging contests.

The bottom line was a 10-run win for the city side who have now taken back control of the title race with four matches to go.

But they are far from home and dry. Town are now 14 points ahead of Finedon, but one slip up would allow their main rivals to get back on top.

And Town have the trickier run-in. They would expect to beat Rushden at home this Saturday (11am) and win on the trip to bottom club Horton House on September 4, but their final two matches at home to neighbours Oundle (September 11) and at thirdplaced Old Northamptonians (September 18) are fraught with danger even if Town haven’t lost a Premier Division match since Finedon beat them at Bretton Gate in September, 2019.

Finedon also have Old

Northamptonians to play, but they will be bankers in their other three matches against Brixworth, Horton House and Desborough.

Town had to win last Sunday to stay in the hunt and

they recovered from 34-3 in difficult conditions to post a respectable total lof 181-8 in 50 overs. A brief rain delay left Finedon needing 176 in 47 overs and when Lewis Bruce took the last of his five wickets

to leave the host reeling at 1058 it looked game over.

But Vikram Sohail (66 from 61 balls) launched a thrilling counter attack before he was superbly run out by KP Singh and Chris Milner.

Sulemain Saleem then held his nerve to hold a steepler of a catch from the first ball of the final over to seal victory.

Saleem had also batted superbly for a Town top score of 43 with his fourth-wicket stand of 74 with Bruce (40) proving crucial as was a wellstruck 28 from Nick Paskins.

Bruce (5-28) was backed up with the ball by seamer Mark Edwards who didn’t concede a run off the bat until his ninth over and finished with figures of 2-7 from 10 overs.

Town’s match at bottom club Brixworth on Saturday was abandoned at half-time after the home club had made a respectable 209-8.

Finedon had smashed 3405 in their 60 overs at Oundle on Saturday with the home side 110-3 when play was abandoned.

Peterborough Town seconds • could make it a double title triumph in the Northants League. They need two points from their final game at Great Houghton on Saturday to seal top spot.

They almost made it last weekend when they smacked 338-6 against St Crispin and Rylelands, but the match was abandoned.

Veer Mangat hammered 101 from 53 balls with five sixes and 11 fours.

Sulemain Saleem top scored for Peterborough Town at Finedon and took a superb late catch to seal victory.