Peterborough Town aim to play the role of party poopers

Cricket - Red letter day for Castor captain

It’s too late to satisfy their own ambitions, but Peterborough Town could blow the Northants Premier Division title race open on Saturday.

Third-placed Town are at leaders Finedon who hold a healthy 24-point lead over second-placed Old Northamptonians with three matches to go.

The city side are a further nine points back, but have just two matches to play so even a win on Saturday wouldn’t be enough.

But Town will travel high on confidence. Their ‘big four’ batsmen of captain David Clarke, Lewis Bruce, Rob Sayer and Asim Butt played together for the first time this summer last weekend with impressive results, and they are all due to appear at Finedon.

Sayer (76no from 57 balls), Butt (70, 67 balls), Clarke (63, 53 balls) and Bruce (54) all scored heavily against Northampton Saints on Saturday as Town piled up 307-5 in their 50 overs at Bretton Gate.

Saints had a real go early in their reply before batting out for a draw in the final stages. They closed on 220-9 with Sayer (4-60), Matt Milner (2-26) and Vansh Bajaj (2-33) bowling best. The result pretty much guaranteed Town will finish in the top three for the ninth season in a row.

Old Northamptonians will expect to win at Oundle this Saturday.

Elsewhere the alarm bells are ringing at Ufford Park after a three-wicket defeat in their big Cambs Division Two relegation battle at home to Southill Park last Saturday.

Ufford are just 15 points clear of Southill who sit in the final relegation place with two games apiece remaining.

Ufford host in-form Castor this Saturday when Southill are at mid-table Blunham. You can pick up 30 points for a win at this level

Ufford can’t risk a slip-up as Southill’s final game is at home to Division Two whipping boys Great Shelford. Ufford host Cambridge St Giles, who are fifth, on the final day of the season.

Castor skipper Reece Smith enjoyed himself at Great Shelford last weekend as he cracked the first Cambs League ton of his career.

Smith was 102 not out when Castor closed on 254-4. Shelford were bowled out for just 75 in reply.

In Division One club legend Gary Freear was in terrific form as Wisbech beat March by six wickets in the Fen derby.

Half centuries from Brandon Phillips and Saranga Rajaguru pushed March up to a respectable 236-9, but Freear made it look an inadequate total with an unbeaten innings of 131 as Wisbech beat their local rivals for the second time this summer.

Wisbech entertain Ramsey this Saturday.

Bracebridge Heath clinched another Lincs Premier Division title last weekend when Market Deeping and Bourne also picked up wins.

Jamie Morgan struck 55 in Deeping’s surprise 25-run win over third-placed Sleaford.

Division One (noon): March v Histon, Wisbech v Ramsey.

Division Two (noon): Huntingdon v Stamford Town, Ufford Park v Castor. Division One (12.30pm): Houghton & Wyton v Burghley Park, Ramsey 2nds v Newborough.

Division Two (12.30pm): Nassington v Godmanchester 2nds, Sawtry v Alconbury.

Division Three (12.30pm): Falcon v Huntingdon 2nds, Hampton 2nds v Peterborough Town 3rds, Orton Park 2nds v King’s Keys, Ramsey 3rds v Warboys.

Division Four (12.30pm): Easton-on-the-Hill v Brampton. Premier Division (1pm): Billingborough v Bourne 2nds, Spalding v Skegness, Stamford Town v Long Sutton, Welby Cavaliers v Grantham 2nds.

Division One (1pm): Baston v Hackington, Claypole v Spalding 2nds, Moulton Harrox v Belton Park.

Division Three (1pm): Long Sutton 2nds v Billingborough 2nds.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Peterborough Town skipper David Clarke hits out on his way to 63 from 53 balls against Northampton Saints last weekend.