Burnham 1st XI 144-3 beat Street 2nd XI 143-6 by 7 wkts (From This is The West Country)

Burnham 1st XI 144-3 beat Street 2nd XI 143-6 by 7 wkts

8:00am Wednesday 29th August 2012 in Sport

Somerset League Division 3

Burnham 1st XI 144-3 beat Street 2nd XI 143-6 by 7 wkts

BURNHAM triumphed fairly comfortably in a match reduced to 40 overs a side because of a downpour just before the scheduled start time.

Batting first, Street got off to a shocker, losing their opener for one thanks to a superb diving catch from Phil White. Western (24) and W. Wall (28) then attempted to rebuild the innings, taking the score to 40 in the 12th over. However, Stuart Green put paid to the recovery, taking three wickets in quick succession, which left Street precariously placed at 71-4.

Following his removal from the attack, Hamlett and D. Wall constructed a 61-run partnership, although Darren Aston and Andy Smith were far from expensive, restricting Street to fewer than four runs per over. And the crucial breakthrough came at 132, when Aston bowled Hamlett for 32, with Farrow soon following after being caught off Aston for three in the last over.

In reply, Burnham got off to a slow start, with a spell of 29 consecutive dot balls hampering their progress. Jim Bloodworth was dropped on zero, which proved to be a very costly miss because, despite losing opening partner Brad House for ten, he soon found his rhythm and turned the tide irreversibly in Burnham’s favour with help from Robbie Driver.

Bloodworth reached his 50 off 73 balls, in spite of the slow outfield, which meant he scored just three boundaries. Having played a vital supporting role, Driver (26) was dismissed at 104 but, by then, victory was in sight. Bloodworth was caught off Vowles for an impressive 71 but Julian Stearnes (11 no) and Pete Harris (12 no) kept their nerve to wrap up the victory.

* UPHILL Castle are the visitors to Burnham on Saturday in the final match of the season.