Burnham Sports CC

Burnham Sports had mixed fortunes when they played in friendlies that featured more than 1,000 runs over the weekend.
Dominic Whittaker (57) and Steve Sims (54) enjoyed an opening stand of 107 when Sports played St Aidans in a 40 overs per side at Millfield.
The real fireworks started when this pair departed, though, with the final 16 overs yielding 151 runs.
Robin Whittaker (67) and Andy Stephens (36) got the ball rolling with a breezy third-wicket partnership before Joel Whittaker (19) and Ali Allchin (13) played cameo roles.
Burnham then suffered some of their own medicine as Barnes (93), Powell (51) and Renideze (48) piled on the runs.
The Saints looked to be heading towards success before a brilliant juggling catch by Steve Rees-Evans at deep mid-wicket, off the bowling of Joel Whitaker, changed the course of the game.
Sims (three for 31) and Tom Stephens (two for 44) picked up late wickets as the visiting team fell seven runs short - closing on 251 for nine.
The previous day, Sports had travelled to Little Baddow for another 40-over friendly and lost by 67 runs.
Baddow predictably opted to bat first after winning the toss but, when Tom Stephens took two wickets in his first over, were in genuine trouble at 28 for four after nine overs.
However, from that wobbly base, they progressed to 297 for nine despite the best efforts of Robin Whitaker (three for 29 from his allotted eight overs). Sports did a lot of ball chasing as Dave Lucy and Tom Bicknell (111) shared in a fluent fifth-wicket partnership of almost 200.
Lucy, the former long-time Burnham captain, departed on 84 but that was some reward for being an excellent host as he provided a fine tea and put money behind the bar for all the Burnham players to have free post-match drinks.
In reply, Sports never looked like challenging Baddow’s total but a forceful innings of 96 by Ali Allchin at least gave their reply some respectability. Allchin thumped five sixes and nine fours and was firmly in sight of three figures when caught and bowled.
This Sunday, Sports sign off for the season with an away friendly against Tillingham (start 1pm).