ANDY ORAM was the match-winner as Saints claimed an extraordinary 17-run win over reigning champions Finedon Dolben in the NCL Premier Division on Saturday.
In a low-scoring game, Saints must have thought they had thrown away their chance of victory when they collapsed from 76 for one to 120 all out.
And they would have been even more concerned when Finedon eased to 54 for two in their reply, only for Oram to turn the game on its head as he claimed six for 29 as the home side lost eight wickets for 49 runs and were dismissed for 103 in 48 overs.
Richard Stemp claimed three for 29, and Alec Swann chipped in with the crucial wicket of the stubborn Chris Goode for 20, as Goode had been threatening to steer Finedon to a draw.
Earlier, Goode had been the main man with the ball for Finedon, running through the Saints’ middle and lower order and snaring six for 32.
Swann top-scored for Saints with 39 while Jake Fawcett hit 30, with Will Sneath (2-44) claiming both of their scalps. Jack Chopping offered support with two for 38.
Saints have now increased their advantage at the top of the table to 41 points, while Finedon in third are now a whopping 72 points adrift of the leaders.
Second-placed Peterborough dropped further behind as they failed to claim a maximum 30-point haul despite hammering Old Northamptonians. The fact they won batting second meant they couldn’t match Saints’ points haul.
ONs went into the game at Billing Road in confident mood as they sat fourth in the table, but they were blown away by Posh opening bowlers Jamie Smith and Ajaz Akhtar as they were rolled over for just 73.
Smith took five for 32 and Akhtar four for 30, while the only ONs batsman to show any resistance was Richard Hudson who hit 34.
Posh then cantered to victory at 74 for two in just 14.5 overs, David Clarke hitting an unbeaten 36.
Brixworth leapfrogged ONs and are now up to fifth after they buried Burton Latimer by 90 runs, with John Walter their bowling star.
Brixworth set up the victory with a steady batting performance that saw them total 176 all out with Tom Worthington (48) and Callum Berrill (36) the main run-getters.
Latimer were then shot out for just 86 in their reply, with Walter claiming seven for 21 as Brixworth secured their first 30-point haul of the summer.
NCCC Academy came up just short of victory in their clash with Stony Stratford.
David Ripley’s men looked in good shape when they dismissed Stony for 158, particularly as the visitors had collapsed from 111 for one thanks to a great spell of bowling from Asif Bhojani who bagged five for 21, with Jack Goode doing his bit with three for 23.
For Stony, Sharn Gomes hit 60 and Ian Sandbrook 48, with nobody else getting going.
In reply, the Academy youngsters never recovered from falling to seven for three and then 77 for six, despite a dogged 31 from Bhojani and 25 from Joe Dawborn as they were dismissed for 142 to lose by 16 runs.
In the wickets for Stony were Kevin Wijesinghe (3-32), Steve Bellew (2-27) and Habib Ullah (2-32).
Horton House stay rock bottom after they suffered a 100-run defeat to Wellingborough Town.
Borough were bowled out for 182, and the rushed Horton out for just 82.
In the other game, Rushton (195 all out) drew with Wollaston (153-7).
Don’t miss this Thursday’s bumper Chron for your full results and fixtures service covering all 14 divisions, plus an extensive preview of next weekend’s NCL Premier Division action.