Scorecard

Little Waltham v Burnham Sports CC 1st XI on Sat 10 Aug 2013 at 1.00
Burnham Sports CC Won by 58 runs

Match report Paul Green played a pivotal role in Burnham Sports beating Little Waltham and boosting their chances of avoiding relegation.
Green hit a crucial 74 as Sports accumulated 227 - a tally that was enough for them to win by 58 runs and condemn bottom club Waltham, barring a mathematical miracle, to T.Rippon Mid-Essex League Division Two next year.
The other relegation place looks to lie between Sports, Writtle, Ingatestone and Herongate. The four clubs are separated by just 19 points and, with three games left, there are still 78 to play for.
Jamie Hamilton, the Burnham captain, said: “We’ve won four of our past six games and we’ll be safe if we can keep that momentum going into the closing weeks of the season. What we must do is concentrate on our own performances rather than be distracted by those around us.”
Burnham’s batting has been a problem all season and again looked like costing them dearly as Little Waltham reduced them to 150 for eight, albeit on a tricky pitch.
Green, who opened, was not for shifting, though, and his determined effort was backed up by the exploits of Dominic Whittaker, who made 15 not out batting at No 10, and Robin Whittaker, the last man, hitting a breezy 28. Earlier, Joel Whittaker, older brother of Dominic and Robin, had hit 11 fours in a rapid 48.
Waltham, who have won only two games all summer, subsided to 169 all out in reply. Hamilton, an off-spinner, exploited the dry conditions by taking four for 36, while Robin Whittaker claimed three for 51. Ali Allchin (two for 40) and Fuad Ahmed shared the other wickets.
Whittaker has taken 34 wickets this term, giving him excellent prospects of becoming the first Sports player since Andy Stephens to claim 40 victims in a campaign since 2004.
Stephens, who ended with 42 wickets that summer, has been severely hampered by a frozen shoulder in the past 15 months and has played mainly as a batsman for the 2nd XI this year.
He has had a frustrating time in that role but came good in his team’s tense 31-run win against Tillingham 2nd on Saturday, making 94 in his team’s winning tally of 245 for five.
Stephens shared in an opening partnership of 141 with Neil Saunders (54) before Neil Wade, Ed King and Adriaan Hugo, who thumped two massive sixes, chipped in with quick runs.
Tillingham then gave Burnham some of their own medicine and looked to be coasting to victory as the Mears brothers - Matthew and Vincent - both made fluent half-centuries in a fruitful fifth-wicket partnership.
Neither looked like getting out but then Matthew was stumped down the legside by Neil Wade off the bowling of David May. When Vincent had his off stump disturbed by Brian Leech soon after, Tilingham fell away.
Roger Perrin and May each claimed three wickets but it was Leech’s accurate spell, coupled with Wade’s nimbleness, that turned the tide.
“My innings was long overdue and I’m hoping to be back bowling next year,” Stephens said. “I’ve had all kinds of treatments and physio for my shoulder and, at long last, can see light at the end of the tunnel. I had a solo net on Sunday night and bowled six overs off a dozen paces, which were almost pain-free. I’m probably about 75 per cent but finally getting somewhere.”
This Saturday, the 1st XI have a tough home game against Rettendon (start 1pm), who remain in promotion contention. The 2nd XI, also still in relegation trouble in Division Eight, travel to Rayleigh.

Burnham Sports CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
13w 6lb 
for 10 wickets
19
227		        
Paul Green Caught  74 10
Fuad Ahmed Bowled  2
Joel Whittaker Lbw  48 11 1
Grant Smith Caught  19 3 2
Rob Layzell Lbw  0
Alastair Allchin Lbw  13 2 1
Jamie Hamilton Caught  0
Sayeid Ahmed Bowled  0
Jack Silvester Bowled  9 2
Dominic Whittaker Not Out  15
Robin Whittaker Bowled  28 4 1

Little Waltham Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Mahmood12.0143314.333.58
Andrew6.5041141.006.00
Williams12.007400.006.17
P. Clark9.003657.204.00
Ruffel5.0129129.005.80

Little Waltham Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
22w 9b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
32
169 (39.1 overs)		     
Hudson b Allchin 33 5 1
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Burnham Sports CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Alastair Allchin10.1140220.003.93
Robin Whittaker12.0251317.004.25
Joel Whittaker1.001200.0012.00
Jamie Hamilton12.023649.003.00
Fuad Ahmed4.0020120.005.00