While Peterborough Town were eking out a two-wicket win at Old Northamptonians, league leaders and hot title favourites Northants Academy were being hammered by rock bottom Stony Stratford.

Finedon remain in second place after beating Rushton, but the top two play each other on the final day of the season when Town host lowly Wollaston.

Town are still 21 points behind the Academy and 10 points in arrears of Finedon with just three matches remaining, but with 30 points available for a win the door has been opened for Ajaz Akhtar's side.

Akhtar said: "I was pleased with our win, but when I heard the Academy score I was overjoyed. Stratford have only won once all season so the best I was hoping for there was a draw.

"They are young lads in the Academy side so maybe the pressure is getting to them."

Town knew the Academy had lost well before they completed their own win which just added to the pressure of a very tense finish.

On a difficult surface the ONs were happy to reach 159-8 in their 55 overs. Slower bowlers were particularly hard to score off as Akhtar conceded just 20 runs from his 15 overs and Basharat Hussain conceded just 38 runs while collecting two wickets in 17 overs.

Hussain picked up the crucial wickets of David Willey, the son of former England player Peter Willey, and Richard Ingman after Jamie Smith had dismissed dangerous South African Shaun De Kock.

Indeed the home side were indebted to some defiance from their lower order to avoid registering a paltry score.

Asim Butt (34) and David Clarke (22) gave Town a steady start in reply, but when they both fell to De Kock's slow left arms the jitters set in.

Akhtar shuffled his batting order, but to no effect as promoted Phil Adams fell for a duck and out-of-form Cameron Wake again struggled.

But Waqas Chugthai's batting has been a revelation at times this season and he again impressed by making a match-winning 51.

He didn't quite see it through, but Hussain completed an excellent all-round personal effort by smashing a huge six to clinch what could yet be a crucial victory.

Northants League: Premier Division
(Top three, with three games remaining)

• NCC Academy 410 points


• Finedon 400 pts


• Peterborough Town 389pts

Scorecard:
Premier League
OLD NORTHAMPTONIANS lost to PETERBOROUGH TOWN by 2 wkts
ONs
S. De Kock c Lutton b Smith 7
R. Ingman c Akhtar b Hussain 15
J. Lucas run out 19
D. Willey c Chugthai b Hussain 1
T. Marriott c Pitigala b Chugthai 11
G. Arblaster b Chugthai 15
S. Caunt lbw Akhtar 35
J. Mellor not out 27
J. Wolstenholme b Chugthai 8
Extras 21
TOTAL (8 wkts) 159
Bowling: W. Chugthai 15-2-54-3; J. Smith 6-1-14-1; A. Akhtar 15-4-20-1; B. Hussain 17-5-38-2; R. Pitigala 2-0-18-0.

Peterborough Town
A. Burton c Arblaster b Wolstenholme 7
D. Clarke c Mclean b De Kock 22
A. Butt c Marriott b De Kock 34
C. Wake lbw Harris 6
P. Adams lbw De Kock 0
W. Chugthai b Harris 51
A. Akhtar c Arblaster b Lucas 14
R. Pitigala c Ingman b De Kock 6
B. Hussain not out 12
J. Smith not out 2
Extras 11
TOTAL (8 wkts) 165
Bowling: J. Wolstenholme 5-1-28-1; R. Mclean 5-1- 26-0; S. De Kock 15-5-31-4; J. Harris 11.1-0-53-2; J. Lucas 3-1-21-1