RUTLAND LEAGUE: Title race hotting up as Freear and Bandaranaike claim tons

Gary Freear continued his blistering form with 13 not out for Wisbech at Oundle.

Leaders Bourne were inactive enabling Nassington and Wisbech - the only other realistic contenders - to close the gap at the top.

Nassington are second, 14 points behind Bourne with five games to go, after Alex Bandaranaike’s unbeaten ton steered them to a five-wicket success at Ufford Park.

Wisbech are third a further seven points adrift after bang in-form Gary Freear smashed an unbeaten 143 in a 75-run win at Oundle.

Since July 1, Freear has scored 686 weekend first XI runs for Wisbech in 10 innings at an average of 114. This was his third unbeatenn ton in that time.

Wisbech amassed 255-7 in their 45 overs at Milton Road before restricting Oundle to 180, thanks mainly to Aussie Jack Hargreaves who bagged 5-57. Jack Bolsover cracked 61 for Oundle.

Bandaranaike opened the batting at Ufford and helped his side chase down the hosts’ 201-8 with six overs to spare. Harrison Craig (4-31) and elder brother Conor Craig (44) also played their part for Nassington.

Elsewhere Stamford Town secured a Division One double over mighty Peterborough Town to greatly assist their battle against relegation.

Connor Gillett scored 57 for Market Deeping at Uppingham.

A depleted city side were dismissed for 134, a total Stamford passed in under 25 overs with five wickets in hand. Inevitably run-machine Andy Hulme contributed 57.

Bottom club Uppingham registered just a second win of the summer as Market Deeping were put to the sword by a massive 101-run margin.

Mark Cox and Jamie Richardson both scored centuries in Uppingham’s 333-3 and Deeping replied with 232-5. Connor Gillett and Jack Martin passed 50 for Deeping.

Reigning champions Uppingham remain bottom, 23 points behind Ufford Park who are themselves 13 points adrift of Deeping. The bottom two go down.

RESULTS

NASSINGTON beat UFFORD PARK by 5 wkts

Ufford Park 201-8 (R. Keymer 43, J. Corder 29, C. Lightfoot 28, A. Larkin 24, H. Craig 4-31, M. Cordeiro 2-15).

Nassington 204-5 (A. Bandaranaike 112no, C. Craig 44, S. Dahiya 3-28).

OUNDLE lost to WISBECH by 75 runs

Wisbech 255-7 (G. Freear 143no, J. Hargreaves 34, J. Bowers 32, G. Martin 4-75, S. Gery 2-34).

Oundle 180 (J. Bolsover 61, R. Henry 31, J. Dalley 26, J. Hargreaves 5-57, K. Haynes 2-21).

STAMFORD beat PETERBOROUGH TOWN by 5 wkts

Peterborough Town 134 (A. Mitchell 23, K. Medcalf 21, M. Danyaal 20, R. Field 3-15, S. Barrett 3-25, L. Dave 2-33).

Stamford 135-5 (A. Hulme 57, T. Williams 40, L. Dave 25, C. Parnell 2-27).

UpPPINGHAM beat MARKET DEEPING by 101 runs

Uppingham 333-3 (M. Cox 125no, J. Richardson 122, J. Smith 2-64).

Market Deeping 232-5 (C. Gillett 57, J. Martin 55, R. Bainborough 47, S. Singh 2-22).