The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Five wins from five games is the Peterborough Town target
Cricket - Brucey bonus for top city side
Lewis Bruce again showed Peterborough Town what they’ve been missing last weekend.
The former captain of the club and the Cambridgeshire minor counties team, has been hit and miss with his availability this season, but when he’s played he’s proved that class is indeed permanent.
Bruce played just his fourth Northants Premier Division match of the season last Saturday and struck his third successive half century in the competition to help set up an easy seven-wicket win over Geddington at Bretton Gate.
The all-rounder has made eight first-team starts in all competitions this season and scored five half centuries.
“If Lewis had played all the gameswewouldprobablyhave won the league,” Town skipper David Clarke said. “That’s not a criticism of him because he has had a lot on his plate this summer. We’re always glad to seehimthoughbecausehehas looked a high class act every time he’s picked up a bat.
“He was excellent last weekend. He was getting grief for some reason from one of the Geddington players, but he put him in his place.”
Clarke admits Finedon now have one hand on the Premier Division title after the leaders won their big game at second-placed Old Northamptonians last weekend.
Finedon also have a game in hand on their nearest challengers, but Clarke insists his side will push them all the way.
“We have five games left and our aim is to try and get 25 points from all of them,” Clarke added. “We are back playing win/lose/draw cricket for the rest of the season so there are plenty of points still to play for.
“We need to win every game which won’t be easy, but we will be prepared to take chances along the way.
“It’s Finedon’s title to lose now and they are a very strong side. We still have to go to their place so we will try and put as much pressure on them as possible.”
Bruce won’t be in action at Brixworth on Saturday, while there’s also a doubt about the team’s other star all-rounder Rob Sayer who has missed the last three Premier Division matches.
Bruce struck 10 fours and a six in his 69 last weekend as Town strolled past Geddington’s 182 all out with 13 overs to spare. Asim Butt weighed in with 41 before Alex Mitchell finished unbeaten on 36.
Earlier slow bowler Vansh Bajaj (4-39) and fast bowler David Sayer (3-35) returned the best figures as Geddington suffered a late order collapse after reaching a promising 168-4. The bowling of Bajaj has been a real bonus for Town. He arrived at the club this summer as a batsman who bowls a bit, but he now has 28 wickets, the joint most in the Premier Division.
(noon): Bourne v Scunthorpe, Woodhall Spa v Market Deeping.
Division One(12.30pm): March v Saffron Walden, Wisbech v Foxton.
Division Two (12.30pm): Blunham v Stamford Town, Southill Park v Castor, Thriplow v Ufford Park. Premier Division(1pm): Long Sutton v Billingborough, Spalding v Woodhall Spa 2nds, Stamford Town v Sleaford 2nds, Welby Cavaliers v Bourne 2nds.
Division One (1pm): Claypole v Moulton Harrox, Market Deeping 2nds v Graves Park, Skegness v Baston, Timberlands v Spalding 2nds.
Division Two (1pm): Grantham 3rds v Long Sutton 2nds, Pinchbeck v Uffington. Division One (1pm): Burghley Park v Hampton, Newborough v Eaton Socon 2nds, Orton Park v Bharat Sports, Ramsey 2nds v AK 11.
Division Two (1pm): Alconbury v Nassington, Upwood v Barnack.
Division Three (1pm): Bretton v Orton Park 2nds, Hampton 2nds v Ramsey 3rds, King’s Keys v Newborough 2nds, Peterborough Town 3rds v Falcon.
Division Four (1pm): Adidda v Little Paxton, Castor 2nds v Burghley Park 2nds, Eastonon-the-Hill v Hemingford Park, Werrington v Blunham 3rds.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 19