Saints shared an extraordinary tie with Overstone Park as they just missed out on a much needed victory.

Saints needed just one more run to secure the points in their battle to avoid relegation, but were bowled out before they could net the crucial score.

Overstone won the toss and decided to bat. Consistent knocks from James Moore (35), Sam Shelford (25), Leon Williams (25no) and David Cameron (23) led them to 156 for seven in 50 overs.

Geoff Jackson (57) was the star of the reply as he tried to propel Saints to victory, but disappointing totals from Affie Hussain (0), Dan Callan (5) and Dave Shardlow (0) cost them dear as their last wicket tumbled while on 156 for nine, leaving them to share the points as they remain 18 points behind Towcestrians in the battle to avoid the drop.

Earls Barton continued their promotion march with victory at Great Oakley.

Naseem Yaqub was in fine form as he ripped into the Oakley batting line, taking six for 22 to restrict them to 104 all out.

Lee Bell (5-34) did his best to stop the league-leaders, but Thomas Mills (43) helped Barton to 107 for seven.

Their closest rivals for the title, Tharpston, got the better of Towcestrians.
Ben Laycock (33) was the only batsmen to have any success for Tows as Henco Bornmann (4-19) and Gareth Pamplin (4-32) took them apart to see Tows end on 91 all out.

Thrapston lost just one wicket in their reply as they made light work of victory, reaching 92 for one in 28.2 overs thanks to knocks from Tom Hankins (30) and Jeremy Burdett (27), while Tows gave away 27 extras.

Jeremy Medlin (4-26), Duncan Fossey (17-3) and Craig Burger (2-20) were all in the wickets but they couldn't do enough to see East Haddon overcome Brigstock.

The trio bowled out Brigstock for 146 in 46.2 overs to set up a chance of victory for Haddon.

But a disappointing batting show saw them fall short of their target.
James Houghton (35), Chris Henderson (21), James Worle (16) and Craig Burger (15) were the only batsmen to make it in to double figures as Haddon were out for 121.

Bowling honours went to Trevor Erskine, who took five for 32, while Suk Singh (2-37) and Gurpal Singh (2-3) also chipped in.

Bevin the Bucks star
Division Three
Sam Bevin led Long Buckby to victory over Wellingborough Indians, and they are just four points behind Wollaston who occupy the second and last promotion spot.

Joe Oliver took five for 63 and Adrian Flynn three for 31 to bowl out Indians for 152 in 43 overs, before Bevin got to work with the bat.

He hit 71 not out after openers Greg Oliver and Adam Wallinger had both fell for ducks.

Jack Mousley (36) and Oliver (24no) added the necessary support as the Bucks reached 156 with four wickets in hand to win the match.

ONs impressed with the bat but couldn't finish off opponents Bowden with the ball as they were forced to settle for a winning draw.

Peter Caunt led the way with 46 for ONs after Bowden had put them in to bat, Peter White (32) and Callum Berril (31) joining in as ONs reached 213 before being bowled out, Michael Brammer (4-74) and Anthony Roberts (5-44) both impressing with the ball.

Brammer (37) and Jason Stokes (70) got their side off to a flying start in the reply while Roberts hit 25, but they offered little resistance otherwise as only Simon Linsell (10) joined them in double figures.

Andy O'Connor (5-34) took the best figures for ONs, but had little support as Bowden held on at 178 for seven.

Oundle took just 12 overs to punish a poor batting performance from Horton House.

Nilesh Jhala (40) was the only man to offer a score of substance for House as they crashed to 92 all out, Gareth Hook (3-11) and Jack Roberts (4-45) taking the plaudits.

In reply a quickfire 44 from Ben Weatherington and 21 from Neil Fox led Oundle to 93 for three to complete victory.

Mark Richardson (53) and Kenny Heath (60) helped St Crispins & Ryelands to 194 to give them a chance of victory against second placed Wollaston.
But Crispins' bowlers had little to shout about as Andy Luck (71), Jamie Perry (37) and Mark Carter (55) saw the promotion chasers to 198 for four to take the lion share of the points.

Dan Warren did his best with ball as he took three for 55, but he couldn't stop the current runners up from taking the win.

Treble joy for Hockley
division Four
Bowlers Michael Hockley (3-11) and Todd Hewitt (3-49) did the damage for Ashby Timken as they restricted Irchester to 148 all out.

Mark Harrison (47), Philip Leyshon (22) and Philip Arnold (17) were the only batsmen to get going as extras (47) helped them out.

In reply Sam Scarman fell a run short of his half century with a knock of 49, while Martin Standen (34) and Todd Hewitt (39) guided Timken to 149 for three for a seven wicket win.

Stony Stratford kept up their promotion hopes with victory at Wellingborough Town.

Oswin Peter (55) and Grant Ebrahim (27) were the main players in Stony's innings helping their side to 164 for seven chasing 163.

Steven Osborne (4-33) was on hand with the ball to stifle the Town attack alongside Michael Brown (2-23) and James Canwell (2-64).

West Haddon took a crucial victory over Higham Ferrers to gain the upper hand in the scrap to stay in division four.

Phil Perryman (4-23) starred with the ball for Haddon as Ferrers were only allowed to make 160, Terry Groome (63) the mainstay of their innings.

Haddon were struggling in their reply until Benjy Taylor (25) and Matt Climie (72) came to the fore to smash them to victory, reaching 162 for five in 39.4 overs, despite the best efforts of Chad Mills (2-46) and Robert Materna (2-17).