Town, who had 21 points to make up on the league leaders before the weekend, worked wonders to get Bretton Gate playable after Friday's heavy rainfall.

But more rain during the game and the reluctance of the umpires and the opposition to match Town's enthusiasm meant stumps were finally drawn 10 overs from the end of play. Unusually for club cricket, bad light was the excuse offered to and accepted by Northampton Saints.

Ironically Saints were the only team able to win at the time of the stoppage as they required just 78 from 64 balls with eight wickets in hand.

Town skipper Ajaz Akhtar said: "I don't understand the attitude of some teams. They would rather sit around in a bar all afternoon watching television than get out on the field and play.

"I had to do some strong negotiations just to get Saints on the field at one point, but they couldn't wait to get off at the end even though they were the only team with a chance of winning.

"It was a lot of stress for three points. We would have got two if the match had been abandoned before the start!"

Akhtar lost a crucial toss and from 70-3, Town slumped to 115 all-out, but only after the captain had agreed to only bat for a further 10 overs following a rain delay.

Saints had 20 overs to reach their target and Northants staff member Mark Nelson ensured a breezy start, but once he was brilliantly held in the deep by David Clarke, Saints lost interest in the contest.

Table-toppers Northants Academy and second-placed Finedon saw their matches abandoned without a ball being bowled so Town are now 20 points off the top and nine points behind second with two matches remaining.



CASTOR secured their safety in Cambs Division Two with a five-wicket win over Abington at Port Lane.

The teams played through the rain and produced a decent contest involving over 400 runs.

The visitors amassed 202-6 despite a mean spell of bowling from Andy Knowles (3-21 off 15 overs).

But an opening stand of 87 between Ashley Rodgers (89) and Rob Vitas (16) gave Castor the perfect platform to build a match-winning reply.

Dan Anslow's unbeaten 51 eventually saw them home with two overs to spare.

Yaxley managed 10 overs against Bluntisham, but Khalsa's match at NCI was totally washed out. Yaxley still lead Khalsa by three points in the race for the final promotion slot and the teams meet on the final day of the season next weekend.



NORTHANTS LEAGUE

Premier Division

PETERBOROUGH TOWN v NORTHAMPTON SAINTS (abandoned).

Town

A. Burton c Jefferson b Latham 18
D. Clarke c Park b Findlay 25
A. Butt c and b Findlay 18
C. Wake c Park b Latham 0
W. Chugthai lbw Stemp 19
A. Akhtar b Stemp 11
R. Pitigala c Stemp b Findlay 3
P. Adams b Findlay 2
B. Hussain c Jefferson b Stemp 9
J. Smith b Findlay 7
D. Lutton not out 1

Extras 2

TOTAL 115

Bowling: B. Findlay 17-3-56-5; P. Latham 11-1-40-2; M. Nelson 1-0-5-0; R. Stemp 4.1-0-14-3.