Peterborough Town, Oundle Town and Bourne all saunter into play-off semi-finals, but Castor bow out

Peterborough thrashed Rushden & Higham by eight wickets at Bretton Gate in their quarter-final while Oundle were seeing off Overstone Park by seven wickets.

The pair have been kept apart in the semi-final draw with Peterborough travelling to Finedon and Oundle hosting Old Northamptonians on Saturday (September 12, 11am starts).

Lewis Bruce was the pick of the Peterborough bowlers against Rushden as he claimed his 500th wicket for the club during a spell of 4-27 as Rushden were dismissed for 120. A second-wicket stand of 81 between captain David Clarke (49no) and Chris Milner (43), in his 500th appearance for the club, ensured Peterborough strolled home.

Left-arm slow bowler Harrison Craig (5-36) was Oundle’s star turn as Overstone were shot out for just 95.

Peterborough and Oundle second teams were also celebrating play-off wins. Peterborough looked set to bow out of their Division Two quarter-final as hosts Rothwell reached 115-1 chasing 157-9, but they eventually finished six runs short. Sreehari Subramonian struck 80 for the city side.

Bourne will host Lincoln in a Lincs Premier Division play-off semi-final at the Abbey Lawns on Saturday (noon) after booking their place with a 136-run home win over Sleaford.

Sam Evison (56) and Jack Berry (44) put on 109 for first Bourne wicket as they posted a 40-over score of 205. Tom Bentley then grabbed 4-5 in just 19 balls as Sleaford were skittled for 69.

Grantham take on Bracebridge Heath in the other semi-final with the final scheduled for Bourne on September 19.

Castor’s play-off dreams are over though. They lost a low-scoring Cambs Division Two semi-final by 13 runs to Old Leysians at Port Lane.

RESULTS

Northants Premier Division play-off quarter-finals

Oundle 98-3 (M. Hodgson 32no, P. Foster 31, D. Robinson 22) beat Overstone 95 (H. Craig 5-36, T. Norman 2-30) by 7 wkts.

Peterborough Town 121-2 (D. Clarke 49no, C. Milner 43) beat Rushden & Higham 120 (W. Bates 51, L. Bruce 4-27, Jamie Smith 2-15, M. Edwards 2-31) by 8 wkts.

Northants Division Two play-off quarter-final

Peterborough Town 2nds 157-9 (S. Subramonian 80, K. Medcalf 38) beat Rothwell 151-7 (M. Jackson 54, D. Oldham 3-33, V. Mangat 2-24).

Northants Division Three play-off quarter-final

Oundle 2nds 95-5 (J. Bolsover 31no, O. Ford 23, W. De Capell Brooke 22) beat Rushden 2nds 92 (N. Patel 4-10, G. Martin 2-10, J. Hull 2-10, W. Park 2-19) by 5 wkts.

Lincs Premier Division

Bourne 205 (S. Evison 56, J. Berry 44, A. Stroud 31, P. Morgan 22, D. Harbron 5-55) beat Sleaford 69 (T. Bentley 4-5, C. Cheer 3-19) by 136 runs.

Bracebridge Heath 138-7 (J. Smith 2-27) beat Market Deeping 137-9 (C. Gillett 33, D. Sargeant 20) by 3 wkts.

Cambs League Division Two play-off semi-final

Old Leysians 124-7 (C. Parnell 2-13, S. Dockerill 2-33) beat Castor 123 (M. Wheat 30) by 3 wkts.