Finals night for the Sixes tournament at Burghley Park Cricket Week

Oundle Town have made an impressive start to the defence of their Burghley Sixes crown.

The reigning holders are through to the finals night this evening (Friday) after a couple of power-packed performances.

Pat Harrington hit an undefeated 79 for Oundle as they made 96-0 in the first round victory over Market Overton who were restricted to 62-3 in reply.

The Northants Premier League side then smashed 118 runs on Wednesday night with Harrington again leading the charge as they defeated Nassington.

Nassington had earlier ended the hopes of last year's beaten finalists Barnack as they passed their 75-run target thanks to 62 not out from Faraan Chaudhry.

Peterborough Town beat Stamford in the other Monday match while Ufford Park, Castor and Oakham also safely secured their passage into the quarter-finals.

Hosts Burghley Park and perennial challengers Bourne were also through to the last eight after first round victories.

The quarter-finals on Thursday saw Ufford Park, Oakham and Bourne all progress to join Oundle in the finals night which concludes the popular tournament that also features day games involving Burghley Park.

They played out a draw with Free Foresters on Monday after the visitors closed on 292-8 in pursuit of Burghley's 348-7 declared.

Keyan Gace - who plays his Saturday cricket in the Lincolnshire Premier League with Spalding - smashed 14 fours and two sixes in an unbeaten century.

Opener Ollie Dring had earlier made 77 while Stuart Biggs added as the runs flowed in the opening match of the week.

Will Portlock took four wickets in the Foresters' reply but Arjun Bhardwaj produced a brilliant display for his 118 not out which featured 15 fours and seven sixes in his 47-ball innings.

Mark Rice-Oxley was another century-marker in Tuesday's match as the Author's XI beat Burghley by 112 runs.

Rice-Oxley plundered 22 boundaries in his 112 as the visitors made 285-7 before declaring after 46 overs.

Dave Popple took four wickets for Burghley who were bowled out for 173 in reply despite Charlie Thain making 66.

The honours again finished even in a high-scoring match on Wednesday when Burghley faced a Runs4Research side.

James Laud top-scored with 85 while Dring was again among the runs with 63 as Burghley made 281-7 before declaring after 42.4 overs.

Jake Burton took three wickets for Runs4Research who closed on 263-8 in reply as Oliver Goodliffe made 105 while Luke Patel added 58. Angus MacBeth and Jonny Law both took two wickets for Burghley.

Charlie Thain was among the runs for Burghley in their draw with West Norfolk on Thursday.

He hit 19 boundaries in his 110 before retiring not out as the home side closed on 236-7 with Joe Youngs making 59 as the honours again finished even.

West Norfolk had earlier declared on 301-8 with Youngs and Orlando Thain both picking up a couple of wickets for Burghley.