Somerset Cricket League Division Two

Burnham 213-9 lost to Westlands 219-5 by six runs

HALF-centuries from Pete Harris and Rob Driver weren’t enough for Burnham as they fell just short in a nail-biting encounter against Westlands.

Chasing 220 to win, Harris (75) and Driver (57) looked to be carrying Burnham to a comfortable victory over the league leaders.

But when both were dismissed, the Burnham innings stalled somewhat – as only Jim Birkett (25) and Jim Bloodworth (17no) offered any resistance lower down the order.

Earlier, Brian Brogden (3-59) starred with the ball once again to help restrict Westlands to a gettable total.

Rob Driver (1-28) and leg-spinner, Toby Keast (1-63) also chipped in with a wicket apiece, while N Hallam (66), D Legg (62no) and L Martin (46) top scored for the visitors.

Burnham bowled first and made an early breakthrough when Driver removed for B Ford for 12.

But the second-wicket partnership between L Martin and N Hallam put Westlands in a strong position – and when Keast removed Martin four short of his half-century, D Legg picked up where he had left off.

Together with Martin, the pair put together a match-winning partnership to take Westlands past the 200-mark.

Veteran bowler Brian Brogden picked up three wickets towards the back-end of the innings, as the visitors posted 219-5.

The Burnham reply didn’t get off to the greatest of starts, as D Worthington (5) fell to the bowling of C Higgins (2-41).

But Westlands were forced to wait a while for their second wicket, as Driver and Harris assumed centre stage.

The pair took the score past 50 before Driver departed for 57 – and when Harris fell for 75, the innings lost much of its impetus.

Birkett and Bloodworth did their best to get Burnham over the line, but the hosts finished up six runs short.