Peterborough Town are three wins away from retaining their county title, play-off matches for Oundle and Castor

The city side finished top of the competition’s mini-league with the only unbeaten record of the eight competing teams after cruising to a seven-wicket win in a rain-affected match against Geddington last weekend.

Their reward is a home play-off quarter-final against eighth-placed finishers Rushden & Higham at Bretton Gate tomorrow (September 5, 11am).

Oundle Town finished second in the table after smashing Desborough by 10 wickets at Milton Road last Saturday. They will host seventh-placed Overstone Park in a last-eight tie at Milton Road, also tomorrow (11am).

“We played well against Geddington,” Town skipper David Clarke said. “But then we’ve played well all season.

“We would have finished further clear, but for two rain-ruined games when we were well on top. One of those was against Rushden so we should start this weekend’s game confident of victory.”

Rushden have only won one match this summer and that was their first one when Northants first-teamer Emilio Gay helped them beat Oundle.

Gay is unlikely to be involved this weekend, while Town will be missing emerging all-rounder Mohammaed Danyaal.

Leading seamer Mark Edwards is conveniently available again after missing the Geddington game which means veteran Richard Kendall will keep his place after picking up his 800th wicket for the club in last weekend’s win.

Meanwhile Castor skipper Reece Smith is confident his side can win the Cambs League Division Two play-offs.

Castor, who won Division Two North without losing a game, host Division Two West runners-up Old Leysians in a play-off semi-final at Port Lane tomorrow (noon).

Smith said: “We’ve played some good cricket all year so if we can carry on that we’ve got a good chance.

“It’s always exciting to be involved in knockout games.”

Southill Park host Saffron Walden seconds in the other semi-final.

Top weekend fixtures

Saturday, September 5

(11am) Northants Premier Division play-off quarter-finals: Oundle Town v Overstone, Peterborough Town v Rushden & Higham.

Northants Division Two play-off quarter-final: Rothwell v Peterborough Town.

Northants Division Three play-off quarter-final: Rushden & Higham 2nds v Oundle 2nds.

(Noon) Lincs Premier Division: Sleaford v Bourne, Market Deeping v Bracebridge Heath:

(Noon) Cambs League Division Two play-off: Castor v Old Leysians.

Sunday, September 6

(noon) Rutland Division One: March v Oundle, Peterborough Town v Burghley Park.