Brucey bonus for Bourne as Lewis misses Jaidka Cup Final

Cricket - Peterborough Town are back on top of the table

Peterborough Town must contest the Jaidka Cup Final tomorrow (Friday, July 14, 6pm) against a powerful Bourne side without star all-rounder Lewis Bruce.

Bruce, a class batsman, potent off-spin bowler and high quality fielder, has family commitments which also keep him out of Saturday’s Northants Premier Division game against struggling Stony Stratford at Bretton Gate (noon).

Town, who went back to to the top of the Premier Division after crushing bottom club Wollaston by eight wickets last weekend, should still see off Stony without their talisman, but Bourne, a crack Twenty/20 outfit who have also won their last nine completed Lincs Premier Division games, are a different proposition.

Town have been boosted by the availability of all-rounder Paul McMahon for the Jaidka final, also at Bretton Gate.

“The Jaidka is a key target for us,” Town skipper David Clarke stated. “We will miss Peterborough Town’s Lewis Bruce will miss the Jaidka Cup Final . Lewis, but we will still field a strong side. Bourne are a strong, very aggressive team, but we are at home and we need to make the most of every advantage. Our own Twenty/20 form has been much better this season so we’re confident of a win.”

Bourne beat Town in last year’s Jaidka final, but the city side are through to the last four of the Northants Twenty/20 Cup for the first time in three years after sneaking past Oundle by five runs in a quarter-final tie last week when Bruce top scored, took a great catch and claimed a couple of key wickets.

Clarke expects the Premier Division title race to go down to the wire.

“It’s great to be top again, but we have plenty of tough games left. There are only 26 points between the top five sides so the games between the title rivals will be key.

“We can set ourselves up nicely for the first of those games against Oundle by beating Stony Stratford.”

Opening bowler Jamie Smith will replace Bruce on Saturday. (1pm) Division One - Hampton v AK 11, Newborough v Southill Park, Ramsey 2nds v Orton Park, Stamford v Burghley Park. (1pm) Division Two - Barnack v Blunham 2nds, Houghton & Wyton v Peterborough Town 3rds, Ickwell v Nassington 2nds. (1pm) Division Three - Falcon v Hampton 2nds, Sawtry v Burghley Park 2nds, Upwood v Ramsey 3rds.

(1pm) Division Four - Brampton v Bretton, Castor 2nds v Blunham 3rds, Ketton 2nds v Kimbolton 2nds, Little Paxton v Newborough 2nds, Werrington v King’s Keys.

Sunday, July 16

(Three days, 11am) Eastern Division - Beds v Lincs (at Bedford Modern School), Herts v Cambs (Long Marston). (1pm) Division One - Barnack v Nassington, Grantham v Ketton, Stamford v Market Deeping, Wisbech Town v Peterborough Town.

(1pm) Division Two - Castor v Burghley Park, March Town v Uffington, Ufford Park v Newborough, Whittlesey v King’s Keys. (1pm) Division Three East - Nassington 2nds v Alconbury, Ramsey v Market Overton, Werrington v Hampton.

(1pm) Division Three West - Easton-on-theHill v Thrapston.

(1pm) Division Four East - Market Deeping 2nds v Moulton Harrox, Newborough 2nds v Ufford Park 2nds, Spalding v Castor 2nds. (1pm) Division Four West - Bourne 2nds v Laxton, Hampton 2nds v Sawtry, Peterborough Town 2nds v Weldon. (1pm) Division Two - Pinchbeck v Freiston. (1pm) Division Five - Sheikh 11 v St Ives.