NCL ROUND-UP: Stubborn Brixworth hurt ONs title challenge

The stalemate means that third-placed ONs are now 62 points adrift of leaders Peterborough with just five games remaining.

ONs totalled 201 for six thanks to 73 not out from Zaakir Khawaja, 45 from Daniel Harris and 30 from Rob White, with the pick of the bowlers being Sam Bold who claimed three for eight.

Callum Berrill then hit 104 to hold the Brixworth innings together, with Fred Newborough adding 40 down the order to ensure ONs were frustrated as the villagers closed on 175 for eight.

For ONs, Richard Kaufman took three for 43, White two for 41 and Tom Webb two for 26.

Peterborough’s relentless push towards the title continues.

They were four-wicket winners over Wollaston to take their run to five straight wins and extend the gap at the top of the Premier Division to 23 points.

Skipper Lewis Bruce’s 74 set the platform for them and an unbeaten 53 for Paul McMahon finished the job off as they reached 185 for six.

McMahon, Joe Dawborn and David Sayer earlier took three wickets each as Wollaston were all out for 182. Mark Ralph was their top scorer with 61.

The strangest game of the day came at Finedon were the home side were bowled out for 95 only to then dismiss Northampton Saints for a mere 78.

Chris Harris and Corbyn Dolley both bagged three victims in an innings that saw Ben Howgego (17) end as Finedon’s top scorer.

But when Will Sneath had Mark Wolstenholme caught behind from only the second delivery of the reply the game was on.

Sneath took three for 34 and even stubborn resistance from Joe Collins (29) could not save Saints.

Burton Latimer could not follow up last week’s success as they lost by four wickets to Rushden.

They posted 201 for nine from their 55 overs with George Groenland’s 60 leading the way.

But, although Rushden lost six men in the response, they reached their target in just the 37th over.

Ben Paine’s 59 got them going before Will Sheridan cracked 57 from just 37 balls.

Groenland suffered most with his six overs costing 57 runs.

Second-placed Rushton were held up by a determined Stony Stratford outfit,

Having been set 238 for five to win, Stony were unwilling to take up the challenge and finished on 141 for seven.

Oundle got the better of Horton House by two wickets bettering them home side’s 181 all out by reaching 185 for eight.

For Horton, Andrtew Neate (41), Gary Herbert (34) and Charlie MacDonnell (32) were the main run-getters, with MacDonnell (4-37) and Neate (2-42) also leading the way with the ball.