RUTLAND LEAGUE: Six-shooter Balaji has Barnack in a spin

Mohammed Hammad batting for Barnack against Peterborough Town. Photo: David Lowndes.

The off-spinner returned excellent figures of 6-31 from seven overs to prompt a Barnack collapse in the second-half of their innings.

Asim Butt (49) and Tas Ahmed (41) were threatening to steer the home side to a formidable score when Ganesan was introduced into the attack. He claimed the key wicket of Butt, a Peterborough player in Northants’ competitions, lbw.

Barnack closed on 181 in a match reduced to 38 overs per side and a solid start from Marcus Howard (66), A. Mitchell (32) and Scott Howard (30) helped Town home with nine balls to spare.

Tas Ahmed on his way to 41 for Barnack against Peterborough Town. Photo: David Lowndes.

The only other match to finish was a bottom-of-the-table clash with reigning champions Uppingham collecting their first win of the season at the expense of Ufford Park.

And they did it in some style with Jamie Sharrock’s ton setting up a 156-run win. Uppingham piled up 271-5 in their 45 overs before despatching Ufford for 115.

Ram Bopodra scored 68 of those to add to the two wickets he took in Uppingham’s innings. Veteran Mark Cox bagged 5-12 after scoring 41 for Uppingham.

Unluckiest team of the whole weekend was Nassington who were one wicket away from a convincing win at Wisbech when heavy rain caused an abandonment.

Conor Craig (62) and younger brother Harrison Craig (50) scored well in Nassington’s 243-8 and Wisbech were 126-9 when play was called off.

The battle between top two Bourne and Oundle at the Abbey Lawns lasted just 29 overs. Oundle were going well on 144-3 when the game was halted enabling leaders Bourne to protect their unbeaten record. Pete Foster cracked 61 for Oundle.

Stamford were 131-5 with 11 overs to go chasing Market Deeping’s 209-5 when that match was abandoned,

Richard Witt struck his second half century of the weekend for Deeping, while wicket-keeper Dave Sargeant struck 53.

Simon Prentice was unbeaten on 41 for Stamford at the close. He’d earlier taken 2-34.

RESULTS 

BARNACK lost to PETERBOROUGH TOWN by 3 wkts

Barnack 181 (A. Butt 49, T. Ahmed 41, B. Ganesan 6-31, J. Smith 3-23).

Peterborough Town 182-7 (M. Howard 66, A. Mitchell 32, S. Howard 30, M. Yaseen 3-18).

UPPINGHAM beat UFFORD PARK by 156 runs

Uppingham 271-5 (J. Sharrock 108, M. Cox 41, A. Ashwin 32no, R. Bapodra 2-51).

Ufford Park 115 (R. Bapodra 68, M. Cox 5-12, S. Green 3-29).

BOURNE v OUNDLE abandoned

Oundle 144-3 (29 overs, P. Foster 61, M. Hodgson 36no, J. Bolsover 22, B. Collins 2-36).

STAMFORD v MARKET DEEPING abandoned

Market Deeping 209-5 (R. Witt 56no, D. Sargeant 53, J. Andrews 41no, S. Chamberlain 2-32, S. Prentice 2-34).

Stamford 131-5 (S. Prentice 41no, S. Appan 22no, T. Williams 20, Z. Simmonds 3-36).

WISBECH v NASSINGTON abandoned

Nassington 243-8 (C. Craig 62, H. Craig 50).

Wisbech 126-9 (30 overs, T. Norman 3-34).