Burnham Sports boosted their chances of beating the drop in T.Rippon Mid-Essex League first division with a crucial six-wicket win at home to Herongate.
Victory was enough for Sports to climb out of the bottom two but their celebrations were tainted by news of a serious injury suffered by Dave Kitching in the 2nd team’s defeat away to Woodham Mortimer.
Kitching, from South Afica, in his first season at the club, was left in agony after sliding to a stop a ball on the mid-wicket boundary.
It was feared he had suffered a fractured ankle - he has broken it several times in the past - and medics at the ground advised against moving him from the field until an ambulance arrived.
The game was held up for more than an hour before Kitching was taken away from the medical services. Subsequent X-rays revealed no break but he suffered significant ligament and tissue damage, and faces an indefinite period of recuperation.
“Dave was in real distress and we had no option but to halt the game and wait for the emergency services to arrive,” Andy Stephens said. “It’s a relief that he has not broken his ankle but I think it’s safe to say his season is over.”
Burnham went on to lose by seven wickets to Woodham Mortimer, although it might have been different had they not lost the toss and been inserted on a green, damp pitch that improved throughout the day.
Sports battled hard to reach 165 for four from their allotted 45 overs, with 18-year-old Neil Wade, enjoying his best season with the bat, holding the innings together with a knock of 61. It was the left-hander’s fourth score of 49 or more this campaign.
The home side were made to work hard to achieve that tally but, with conditions vastly different by the finish, eventually got home with more than six overs to spare.
Meanwhile, Burnham’s 1st XI were always holding the initiative in their match against Herongate at Millfields.
The visiting team batted first and were quickly reduced to 29 for three by the menacing double act of Ali Allchin and Robin Whittaker (two for 51).
Allchin, whose performances for the club have been limited by his commitments to another team in Cambridge, finished with five for 42 as Herongate ended up being dismissed for 168.
David Bridge (10-2-29-2) and Jamie Hamilton (11-3-42-1) combined to keep up the pressure.
Sports have struggled with the bat this campaign but the early loss of Sayeid Ahmed did not deter them.
Paul Green (30) and Joel Whittaker (33) put on 64 for the second wicket, and then Grant Smith and Jamie Hamilton (17) shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 58.
The prolific Smith finished unbeaten on 50 - a fluent innings that included ten boundaries. Fittingly, Allchin (15 not out) was with him at the crease when the winning runs were achieved with 14 overs to spare.
“It was a fine all-round team performance with everyone playing a part,” Hamilton, the captain, said. “We’ve got four games left and our destiny is back in our own hands. We’ve just got to keep our composure and forget about how those around us are performing.”
This Saturday, Burnham play away to bottom club Little Waltham (start 1pm), knowing that another win would give them genuine momentum in their battle to avoid the drop.
The 2nd XI have a critical home game against their Tillingham counterparts. Both teams are struggling to avoid relegation in division eight.