David May produced the outstanding individual performance as Burnham Sports overcame severe availability problems to enjoy a weekend to savour.
May hit an unbeaten 54 and then finished with bowling figures of 12-4-25-2 as the 2nd XI, defending a target of 159, beat promotion-chasing Herongate by four runs in a dramatic game that went to the final ball.
Meanwhile, several of the club’s younger players were helping Burnham’s 1st XI win by 46 runs away to Herongate. The Sunday team rounded things off by securing a four-wicket success away to South Fambridge 24 hours later.
With 14 players ruled out of action, Burnham had to pull out all the stops to field two sides on the Saturday.
The 2nd XI, in particular, had a most unusual look for their division eight game and, for a long while, looked doomed. Batting first, they slid to 75 for six before May and Steve Rees-Evans (20) put on 60 priceless runs for the seventh wicket.
With Neil Saunders, the captain, having earlier made 32, Burnham finished with a respectable 158. That tally still looked wholly inadequate, though, as Herongate, who had won the reverse fixture easily, raced to 70 without loss after 15 overs.
Roger Perrin’s dismissal of Stock – caught by Steve Sims at mid-off for 61 – caused the visiting team to collapse to 89 for five, though, and they never recovered.
Perrin (12-2-38-2) and Greg Campion (12-5-40-3) backed up May’s restraining efforts, with Sims (6-0-37-2) and David Gamble (3-0-6-0), who were turning their arms over for the first time year, playing their part, too. Herongate ended up needing 11 off the last over and five off the final ball, but Sims held his nerve.
The 1st XI were missing a handful of regular faces but still proved too strong for struggling Herongate in their Division 1 encounter.
After opting to bat, Burnham looked vulnerable at 141 for six, especially with Rob Layzell (49) and Grant Smith (41) back in the pavilion. However, the schoolboy trio of Tom Silvester (24), Jack Silvester (13) and Tom Stephens (19 not out) combined to add 56 and help their team finish with 209.
Herongate began their reply briskly but Andy Stephens (8-2-23-3) and Joel Whittaker (9.4-2-30-2) pegged them back. Ali Allchin (three for 45) kept up the momentum, with Stephens junior and Jack Silvester also managing to claim a victim each. Dominic Whittaker kept brilliantly, performing wonders not to concede a single bye.
On Sunday, Burnham travelled to Rayleigh-based South Fambridge and again emerged victorious.
Robin Whittaker (8-2-16-4), Joel Whittaker (3-1-10-2) and Tom Stephens (4-1-10-3) were chiefly responsible for South Fambridge, who chose to bat, being all out for 137.
Burnham stumbled to 73 for six in reply before Joel (38 not out) and Robin (34 not out) finished what they had started. The third Whittaker brother, Dominic, also made 26.
This Saturday, Burnham have similar availability problems to contend with. The 1st XI have a tough home game against Great Baddow (start 1.30pm), while the 2nds, chasing a sixth successive win, travel to Eastwood. The Sunday side are away to Maldon.