Captain could miss the big derby at Oundle because of injury

Cricket - A draw for Peterborough Town to start the Northants League season

Peterborough Town could be without two key men for their local derby at rivals Oundle Town on Saturday (Milton Road, noon).

Former Cambridgeshire captain Lewis Bruce is definitely missing while current Town skipper David Clarke faces a fitness test after suffering from a troublesome knee injury in recent weeks.

Town could do with all their best players fit and firing as they seek to maintain an unbeaten record in Northants League cricket against their nearest neighbours.

Oundle have started the season well, winning all three of their competitive first-team matches, including one over Town in a Rutland Division One match.

Opener Jonathan Dalley stroked 75 not out as Oundle opened their Northants Premier Division season with a handsome eight-wicket win at Northampton Saints last weekend when Town were drawing at home to Rushden.

Town then suffered a shock reverse at home to Cambs Division One side Sawston & Babraham in the first round of the Royal London Club Championships.

“I’m disappointed with losing in the cup, but not overly-concerned,” Clarke said. “Sawston could compete in an ECB Premier League with the standard of their team.

“We played well against Rushden, but the wicket is flat at Bretton Gate so it was always going to be difficult to bowl them out. We dropped a couple of catches early on which cost us. We won’t be able to get away with that at our place this season.

“We didn’t bat well at the start of both games though which is a worry.

“Nick Paskins got us out of trouble against Rushden with a ridiculously good innings.

“He scored quickly, but did so by playing properly and putting the bad balls away.

“It’s obviously disappointing Lewis won’t be at Oundle and I am struggling, but we will still have strength in depth.

“We will need our top players like Rob Sayer and Josh Smith to perform.

“The difference between us and Sawston last weekend was their best players all chipped in, while ours didn’t have such a good day.

“We have never lost to Oundle in the Premier Division, but we never take them lightly. It’s always a game we look forward to and we’ve had some good battles in the past.

“They have good players and they started the season well last weekend, although I’m not sure how strong Saints are this season.”

If Clarke doesn’t make it and he was due to have a scan yesterday (Wednesday) - opening bowler Jamie Smith will skipper the side.

There is a chance injured fast bowler David Sayer could play as a batsman. A bad back caused him to pull out of last weekend’s double-header.

All-rounder Vansh Bajaj remains unavailable because of university exams.

(12.30pm): Division One: Cambridge v Ramsey, Foxton v Wisbech, Histon v Godmanchester, March v Eaton Socon. Division Two: St Ives v Castor, Stamford v St Giles, Ufford Park v Saffron Walden 2nds. (1pm) Division Three: Eaton Socon 2nds v Bharat Sports, Southill Park v AK 11, Wisbech 2nds v Foxton 2nds.

(1pm) Premier Division: Freiston v Bourne 2nds, Long Sutton v Belton Park, Sleaford 2nds v Spalding.

Division One: Baston v Pinchbeck, Heckington v Moulton H, M. Deeping 2nds v Boston 3rds, Spalding 2nds v Stamford. Division Two: Newborough 2nds v Uffington, Spalding 3rds v Long Sutton 2nds.

(1pm) Division One: Barnack v Orton Park, Biggleswade v Burghley Park, Ramsey 2nds v Hampton.

Division Two: Peterborough Town 3rds v Nassington, Sawtry v Falcon.

Division Three: Easton v Castor 2nds, Hampton 2nds v Huntingdon 2nds, King’s Keys v Adidda, Werrington v Sheikh 11.

Division Four: Burghley Park 2nds v Branpton, Ickwell v Orton Park 3rds.

(1pm) Division Three: Sree Sanatan v Ketton Sports.

Sunday, May 5

(11am & 2.30pm) Group 3: Cambridgeshire v Hertfordshire (at Peterborough Town CC). (1pm) Division One: Castor v Grantham, King’s Keys v March, Oundle v Barnack, Wisbech v Market Deeping.

Division Two: Burghley Park v Uffington, Huntingdon v Stamford Town, Newborough v Bourne, Ufford Park v Easton.

Division Three: Nassington v Alconbury, Spalding v Weldon, Whittlesey v Castor 2nds.

Division Four East: Market Deeping 2nds v Wisbech 2nds.

Division Four West: Ketton Sports v Laxton, Stewart & Lloyds v Hampton.

Monday, May 6

(from 10.30am): Bourne v Boston v Sleaford (Abbey Lawns); Woodhall Spa v Grantham v Market Deeping (at Woodhall).

The Peterborough Town team that drew with Rushden in the Northants Premier Division with the ICC World Cup trophy which was on display at Bretton Gate.