Good start for Burnham

6:41pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

There were a string of fine individual performances as Burnham Sports cricket club began their season in fine style.

The club's Saturday 1st XI were frustrated to have their match away to Galleywood called off but consolation was gained from the 2nd team picking up maximum points from their opening Mid-Essex League eighth division match at home to Billericay St Johns. And then, 24 hours later, Sports were celebrating again after beating Terling by three wickets in their 40-over Warsop Stebbing Central Essex Sunday League encounter.

Jalal Ahmed and Joel Whittaker both prospered in the 2nd team's 81-run win over St Johns - the pair sharing in a fourth-wicket stand of 130 as Burnham rattled up 282 for seven from their allotted 45 overs after being invited to bat.

Ahmed, older brother of Jahid, the Essex player, feared being rusty after missing nearly all of last season but need not have worried. He never looked in any trouble and punished any wayward deliveries in typically efficient manner. He coasted to 93 with the help of five sixes and nine fours before being undone by a leg-stump yorker.

Whittaker, by his own admission, was less fluent and was given a couple of lives on his way to accumulating 84. He hit ten fours and a six before succumbing to the last ball of the innings.

Paul Green (22), Jamie Hamilton (19) and Ed King (19) also chipped in as Burnham sped along at more than six runs per over.

In reply, St Johns began boldly but leg-spinner Greg Campion (three for 38 from ten overs) took a couple of prize scalps to keep the home team in control. With the game won, Hamilton (four for seven) was rewarded for his accuracy near the finish of the innings.

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