Basement side Stony Stratford welcomed Premier Division thoroughbreds Finedon Dolben to Ostler's Lane on Saturday looking for crucial points to close the gap on Burton.

However, it proved to be a tough game against the reigning champs.
Winning the toss, Stony inserted their opponents and Richard Lines and Steve Bellew found immediate assistance.

Former Horton House opener Gary Herbert mixed aggression with good fortune to give the Finedon innings early impetus, but the other batters found the going difficult.

At 94-3, Stony felt well placed to cause an upset but Herbert continued to chance his arm, registering an amazing century at a run a ball.

He had contributed 100 of the 130 when he brought up three figures and it was a measure of the remarkable innings that when he fell with the score at 150-4, Stony still felt best placed of the two teams leading into the final 15 overs.

A half century from John McLoughin and 33 from Jonathan Dunne saw Finedon close on 236-7 declared from 53 overs.

At the break, Stony still felt well placed and were satisfied with their bowling performance.

However, they immediately lost the luckless Graeme Carter for two and a mixture of woeful batting and disciplined bowling saw a steady procession of home batsmen back to the pavilion.

The only real resistance in the all out total of 150, as has been the case on too many occasions, came from Dion Ebrahim who played a lone hand of 74 not out.

Only two other batsmen registered double figures in a truly poor batting performance.

With other results not going Stony's way, their grip on Premier League status is slipping away but a win will throw the table wide open.

Saturday sees Stony travelling the short distance to Campbell Park to take on league leaders Northants Cricket Club Academy.

In Division Four Stony Stratford 2nds (120-8) edged out Higham Ferrers (119) by two wickets, Stony 11 points adrift of second place Ashby Timken with four games left.

Oswin Peter ripped through the Higham order with 5-20 while Nick Allen hit a half century as Stony edged home in reply.

Wicken picked up 13 points from their draw with West Haddon in Division Four but they remain 25 points behind Higham at the foot of the table.

Saturday saw Wicken post 188-9 with Matthew Wootton making a top score of 33, West Haddon holding out for the draw with 141-8 as Steve Ratcliffe claimed 5-23.

Stony Stratford 3rds go into their last two games of the season in Division Eight in second place, 31 points behind Loddington and Mawsley 2nds who have just one game left to play.

Saturday saw Stony post 236 all out after being 71-5, Ryan Packer hitting 66. Wellingborough West Indians were bowled out for 161 to lose by 75 runs, Packer taking 5-9.

Wicken 2nds are third in Division Nine after they were awarded the full 30 points with scheduled opponents Daventry unable to raise a side.