Neck and neck in Northants

Played 13. Won 10. To play nine. This is how things look for leaders of Hevey Building Supplies Northants Premier Division Cricket League, the Northamptonshire Cricket Academy after their three wicket win over Rushton.

But this is also how things look for last years champions Finedon Dolben who are a tantalising three points behind after another victory at the weekend, this time a six wicket win over Northampton Saints to make the Midlands contest one of the most gripping in the Premier League competition.

Third-placed Peterborough Town were also winners at Irthlingborough by a massive nine wickets thanks in part to 40 year-old Ajaz Akhtar who bowled unchanged for 17 overs for 4-22. But unless the form of the leaders drops away in the remaining matches, the Premier League appears to be a two horse race.

In the match between Desborough and Rushden, Graeme White and Mohammed Hussain put on a massive 216 for the third wicket in 55 overs to take Rushden to 285 for two.

Graeme's unbeaten 137 included a six and 18 fours and was his highest score for the Club while Mohammed (103 not out - two sixes and nine fours) reached his second unbeaten century with the two sixes coming in the last over. Desborough's reply began with an opening stand of 103 (Sapal 77, Ali 35).

A third wicket stand of 75 between Sapal and Siddiq (66) kept them on the right track, but with the fall of three relatively quick wickets they batted out the last six overs from 230-5 to finish on 233-6 to give Rushden the winning draw.