Teenagers Fuad Ahmed and Neil Wade both shone as Burnham Sports enjoyed a weekend to savour.
Ahmed starred with bat and ball to help the club’s 1st XI gain a vital five-wicket win at home to Great Totham, while Wade hit a personal best 73 to lay the foundations for the 2nd XI’s equally crucial 11-run win away to East Hanningfield and Great Burstead.
Both the 18-year-olds were due to play the next day, too, in a Warsop Sunday League fixture but Rayleigh, their scheduled opponents, forfeited - handing them the points.
Ahmed began his match-winning exploits by taking three for 35 as Totham, batting first in sweltering conditions, accumulated 187 for nine from their 45 overs.
He took the first two wickets to fall and was supported by Robin Whittaker (three for 65) as well as Joel Whittaker, Adriaan Hugo and Jamie Hamilton - who each took a wicket.
After tea, Ahmed was promoted in the batting order and responded by sharing a second-wicket partnership of 100 with Paul Green.
It seemed as if the pair might see their team home without further loss but then they fell in quick succession - Green for 46 and Ahmed for 56.
The former hit six fours, while the latter found the boundary on nine occasions.
It was left to Grant Smith, defying a sore hip, and Hamilton to more or less finish the job. Smith finished unbeaten on 33, with Hamilton, the captain, contributing 20.
Sports remain in the bottom two in the T.Rippon Mid-Essex League first division but will jump out of the relegation places if successful away to Writtle this Saturday.
Unfortunately, Fuad and his older brother, Sayeid, will not be available. Neither are likely to play again until August 9 as both will be observing Ramadan.
Meanwhile, Burnham’s 2nd XI were also toasting success at East Hanningfield and Great Burstead - a picturesque ground owned by Barry Hearn, the boxing promoter.
Sports won the toss and batted first, a decision they had few regrets about with Wade thriving. The left-hander has excelled behind the stumps this term and his 73 confirmed him to be an excellent all-rounder.
Other players chipped in, with the evergreen Roger Perrin making an extremely handy 26 not out at the finish. Sports finished on 197 for nine.
In reply, East Hanningfield preserved wickets but struggled to keep up with the required run rate.
The home side were in the hunt until the final two balls, though, before ending with 186 for five. Greg Campion, the skipper, finished with two for 46.
This Saturday, Burnham’s 2nd XI entertain their Terling counterparts (start 1.30pm).
ends.