Cricket: Town out to stop the league pacesetters
PETERBOROUGH Town might have to put the shutters up at Bretton Gate tomorrow to ensure they stay in the Northants Premier Division title race.
PETERBOROUGH Town might have to put the shutters up at Bretton Gate tomorrow to ensure they stay in the Northants Premier Division title race.League leaders Finedon are in town (noon start) to face an under-strength city side. Ajaz Akhtar's men dropped to third in the table last weekend after suffering a bad defeat at the hands of the Northants Academy.
Town are now 33 points adrift of Finedon and a defeat tomorrow would leave them with a near-impossible task to get back into the title race picture.
It's a bad day to be without the team's most consistent batsmen Asim Butt and Alan Burton.
Akhtar said: "It's not a win or bust situation for us because we are only at the half-way stage tomorrow so there will still be plenty of points to play for.
"But we certainly can't afford to lose as then we would be over 50 points behind and against a team like Finedon that's a massive gap.
"Finedon struggled a little bit early in the season, but they appear to be in cracking form now. It's unlikely they will drop too many more points, but we have to keep the pressure up.
"We were poor last weekend and it's a real blow to be without Butt and Burton, but there is still plenty of quality in the side.
"It's now a case of every individual taking responsibility for their own performance. It's no good assuming someone else will get the runs and wickets.
"We will probably have to bat second tomorrow to make sure we don't lose, but we must be ready to take advantage if we can get Finedon in trouble.
"The weather should ensure it's a batsmen's day, but we have good spinners who should relish the occasion as well."
Chris Jones brings his solid presence at the top of the order back into the Town team tomorrow after recovering from a hand injury.
Martin Hair is also back after a trip to Glastonbury, while Town are also trying to secure the release of Connor Cunningham from the Academy.
League rules allow players to play for the Academy and one other team. Cunningham, from Chatteris, is a promising 16 year old batsman who scored 30 against Town last Saturday and 106 for them last Sunday!
Akhtar is currently in the middle of a hectic schedule. He started a three-day game for the MCC against Oxford University at The Parks on Wednesday and, after the Finedon match, he starts another three-day game as Cambs tackle Bucks in the Minor Counties Championship against Bucks at March from Sunday.
PETERBOROUGH Town 2nds are currently in great form in Northants Division Four. Bob Milne's youngsters have won their last five matches to move into fourth place in the table.
Tomorrow Town have a big game at fifth-placed Wellingborough seconds.
THE club's most successful captain has returned to the helm to steer Yaxley out of trouble in Cambs Division Two.
Stuart Brown, who led Yaxley into the Cambs League by winning the Hunts Division One title, is back in charge following the resignation last week of Stuart Elderkin because of work commitments. Yaxley have lost their last five matches. They are at Abington tomorrow.
Yaxley chairman Graeme Clark said: "I believe Stuart has the experience and knowledge of the game to steer us away from the foot of the table. This will provide the time the club needs to build a strong side for the 2010 season."
Reigning champions Nassington moved to to the top of Cambs Division One last weekend, but local rivals Wisbech are hard on their heels just two points behind.
Nassington are at Granta seconds tomorrow, while Wisbech will seek to avenge a shock opening day defeat at the hands of Khalsa.
OUNDLE seek a ninth straight Rutland Division One win on Sunday. They host reigning champions Rushton at Milton Road (1.30pm) just seven days after beating them away from home.
Peterborough Town have won their last three matches to move into third place. They are at local rivals Bourne on Sunday.
Email to a friend
Print this page - Popular
- Most comments
- Most shared
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Local pages
Looking for a...
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Peterborough
Thursday 18 March 2010
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 8 C
Wind Speed: 14 Knots
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 2 C - 10 C
Wind Speed: 18 Knots
Wind direction: North west
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.