Scorecard

Burnham Sports CC 1st XI v Rettendon on Sat 26 Jul 2014 at 1.30
Burnham Sports CC Won By 90 Runs

Match report Nick Gosling and Robin Whittaker played pivotal roles as Burnham Sports thrashed promotion rivals Rettendon by 90 runs at Millfields.
Gosling thumped a quickfire half-century, while the prolific Whittaker grabbed another four wickets. Critically, the latter needed just five balls to dismiss Chris Huntingdon, recognised as one of the best batsmen in the league as Rettendon crumbled.
The decisive success - Burnham's third in succession - means that they and Goresbrook, the narrow leaders, have established a healthy advantage over the chasing pack in T.Rippon Mid-Essex League first division.
Three wins from their final five games could be enough for Sports to be playing in the Premier League next summer, for the first time in ten years. This Saturday, they continue their push with an away fixture against South Weald, the bottom club.
"That has to be one of our best all-round performances of the season,” Jamie Hamilton, the Sports skipper, said. “We completely outplayed Rettendon, who are a good team, and might easily have won by an even bigger margin but for getting a bit complacent once they were nine wickets down.
"We've got five matches left and, if we win four of them, promotion is guaranteed. We must take each week as it comes, though, and not get too far ahead of ourselves."
Hamilton had little hesitation in choosing to bat after winning the toss and his decision was vindicated, with his team accumulating 242 for eight from their 45 overs.
Gosling and Whittaker (20) put on 50 in eight overs to set the tone. The former, making his home debut after his transfer from Rayleigh eight days earlier, hit five fours and three sixes before perishing for 53.
Fuad Ahmed (30), Hamilton (24) and Joel Whittaker (15) kept up the momentum before Jack Silvester (34 not out) and his older brother, Tom, added quick runs towards the end of the innings. The latter’s rapid 19 included a wonderful straight six.
Sports wasted little time tightening the screw after tea, with Whittaker trapping Huntingdon LBW in the first over of their reply.
His dismissal deflated the visiting team, who did not look like mustering three figures before their last pair, Bowring (29 not out) and Herbert (30), delayed the inevitable.
Whittaker, who has bowled with pace and accuracy all season, finished with four for 42 from his 12 overs. He has taken 32 wickets this term at less than 13 apiece.
Ahmed (two for 27), Tom Silvester (two for 30) joined in dismantling the opposition, with Joel Whittaker and Andy Stephens sharing the other two wickets to fall. The only negative for Burnham was Stephens injuring his left hamstring, which is likely to keep him on the sidelines this week.
Meanwhile, Burnham’s 2nd XI were losing by six wickets to their Tillingham counterparts in division nine.
Neil Saunders and Rob Layzell got Burnham off to a breezy start but were both caught in the deep attempting further big hits. After their dismissals, only David Bridge (73) prospered as Burnham were bowled out for 190.
That tally proved inadequate, with a half-century by Jimmy Chapman helping Tillingham ease home.
This Saturday, the 2nd XI play need to beat second-placed Great Baddow 3rd XI to revive any hopes of going up.

Burnham Sports CC 1st XI Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 19w 3b 10lb 
for 8 wickets
38
242		        
Nick Gosling Caught  53 5 3
Robin Whittaker Caught  20 4
Fuad Ahmed Caught  30 4
Grant Smith Caught  1
Jamie Hamilton Caught  24 3
Joel Whittaker Lbw  15 3
Neil Wade Bowled  0
Jack Silvester Not Out  34 2 1
Tom Silvester Bowled  19 2
Dominic Whittaker Not Out  8 1
Andy Stephens   1

Rettendon Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Huntingdon6.002300.003.83
Herbert8.0061161.007.62
Snelling8.0040313.335.00
Bowring12.0153226.504.42
Plummer11.0052226.004.73

Rettendon Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
13w 9b 1lb 
for 10 wickets
23
152 (33.4 overs)		     
Huntingdon lbw R. Whittaker 4 1
Ingram b Stephens 4
Plummer b F. Ahmed 19 4
Bryant lbw R. Whittaker 0
Wall ct D Whittaker B T.Silvester 28 1 1
Falconbridge b R. Whittaker 0
Snelling b R. Whittaker 4 1
Abrehart lbw J. Whittaker 11 1
Bowring Not Out  29 4
Leader ct Stephens B T.Silvester 0
Herbert b F. Ahmed 30 5

Burnham Sports CC 1st XI Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Robin Whittaker12.0042410.503.50
Andy Stephens3.11717.002.21
Jamie Hamilton0.50500.006.00
Fuad Ahmed5.4027213.504.76
Joel Whittaker7.0031131.004.43
Tom Silvester5.0030215.006.00