Peterborough Town's '˜big four' deliver a big score in Saints draw, Oundle win easily

David Clarke hits out during his innings of 63 for Peterborough Town against Northampton Saints. Photo: Terry Harris.

Peterborough Town's '˜big four' played in the same Northants Premier Division game for the first time this season yesterday (September 1) and delivered a glimpse of what might have been for the city side.

Captain David Clarke was joined by minor counties stars of past and present Lewis Bruce and Rob Sayer plus consistent batting pro Asim Butt for the home game with Northampton Saints and all contributed half centuries in a 50-over score of 307-5.

It wasn’t enough to secure victory against Northampton Saints at Bretton Gate who closed on 220-9, but it was probably enough to ensure Town complete 10 years of finishing in the top three. The title would probably have been in reach if Bruce, who hasn’t played a solitary away game this season, and Sayer, who suffered a serious injury early in the summer, had been around a bit more.

Clarke set the pace yesterday with 63 from 53 balls in an opening stand of 95 with Bruce who made a stylish 54 before he was stumped off a wide. Butt cracked 70 from 67 balls after being missed badly on 29, while Sayer ensured Town passed 300 with an unbeaten innings of 76 from just 57 balls against a rather woeful bowling attack.

Lewis Bruce is watchful during his innings of 54 for Peterborough Town against Northampton Saints. Photo: Terry Harris.

Sayer and Bruce are the top two in the Premier Division batting averages with the former scoring at over a run a ball over the season.

Saints, who a place behind Town in fourth, had a go at an unlikely run chase early on, but once Northants first team player Saif Zaib had been well held on the boundary by teenager Connor Parnell for 21 and the impressive Charlie Home had been dismissed for a rapid 53 which included four sixes the visitors batted out for a draw on another top-notch Bretton Gate batting surface. The past fair survived the final five overs.

Sayer completed a handy all-round day with 4-60, while Matt Milner and Vansh Bajaj both picked up two wickets apiece.

Oundle cruised to a five-wicket win at Brigstock with young left-arm spinner Harrison Craig picking up 4-38.

Action from Peterborough Town's drawn game with Northampton Saints. Photo: Terry Harris.

RESULTS

Saturday, September 1

BRIGSTOCK lost to OUNDLE by 5 wkts

Brigstock 149 (H. Craig 4-38, J. Kettleborough 3-45, T. Norman 2-23)

Oundle 150-5 (J. Bolsover 31no, C. Craig 31, M. Hodgson 23, J. Kettleborough 21, J. Dalley 21).

PETERBOROUGH TOWN drew with NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Town 307-5 (R. Sayer 76no, A. Butt 70, D. Clarke 63, L. Bruce 54, C. Home 3-95).

Saints 220-9 (C. Home 53, R. Sayer 4-60, M. Milner 2-26, V. Bajaj 2-33, L. Bruce 1-43).