Peterborough Town swatted aside by the leaders to equal their worst run for 17 years, exciting draw for Oundle Town

The city side’s already faint title hopes were surely crushed as they crashed to a 133-run defeat. It was a third Premier Division defeat on the spin for Town, and that hadn’t happened since 2009. And a miserable run could yet extend as Town, who are fifth, travel to third placed Geddington next Saturday. If applying discipline to their batting remains an alien concept they shouldn’t expect to stop struggling. They need to also find a method to combat accurate slow bowling. Stratford are now clear leaders as they seek a first Northants top-flight title in their history. They were helped by Oundle Town’s exciting draw at reigning champions Finedon with the top two set to meet next weekend. Town can sooth their stress levels by reaching the last eight of the ECB Club knockout with a win over Surrey Championship side Sutton CC at Bretton Gate on Sunday (1pm). They have persuaded former Cambs minor counties captain Lewis Bruce to make a rare appearance in this game. Town started okay against Stony who were reduced to 18-2 by some fiery opening bowling from Nick Green and Jaskaran Singh. The visitors rebuilt through Northants second team player Aadi Sharma and Somerset legend James Hildreth, but Green dismissed both to leave Stony at 81-4 which became 161-7 as 16 year-old off-spinner Raturaj Kale picked up three cheap wickets. But Town failed to pick up another wicket as Stoney amassed 271 from their 58 overs thanks to an outstanding 107 not out from Heet Amin. Kale (3-31) and Green (3-35) were largely blameless. Town suffered a disastrous start when star man Josh Smith was dismissed for a duck in the first over and wickets fell steadily thereafter, mostly to the left-arm spin of Andy Marston who bagged 6-18 from 11 overs and a ball. Green (38) was the only batsman to pass 20. Oundle had a rare victory at Finedon in their sights when reaching 221-5 in pursuit of 243-8, but they lost three wickets for eight runs including two set batsmen in Bill Amas (47) and David Foster (35) and they eventually closed on 238-8. Earlier skipper Mark Hodgson made 48 and Sam Batten added 44. Foster (3-66) was Oundle’s most successful bowler after Conor Craig had picked up a wicket from the first ball of the match. The local side host pro-laden Kislingbury at Milton Road next Saturday (11am).