A rapid half-century by Nick Gosling could not prevent Burnham Sports slipping to a 23-run defeat away to Great Baddow in their opening T Rippon Mid-Essex Premier League match of the season.

The hard-hitting opening batsman reached his half-century inside 11 overs and was raising his bat to his colleagues before Sayeid Ahmed, his opening partner, had managed to get off the mark.

Gosling’s exploits gave Sports great hopes of overhauling Great Baddow’s tally of 216 for six in the 45 overs per-side contest but, from 71 without loss, the visiting team lost their way and stumbled to 193 all out with nine balls left.

They were also left to rue dropped catches, a feature of their earlier friendly matches.

Gosling (56) and Joel Whittaker (54) did, however, offer Burnham plenty of encouragement for what is sure to be a demanding season – their first in the top flight of a league that comprises 13 divisions for more than a decade.

“It was good to get among the runs and, although we lost, I thought we gave a really good account of ourselves,” Gosling said. “But for dropping a few chances and a mid-innings wobble, it might have been a different story.”

Jamie Hamilton, Burnham’s captain, added: “It was a remarkable knock from Nick.

“It was clear to see from the first ball that flew away for a boundary that he was in an attacking mood, and we were all astonished to see he reached his fifty before Sayeid had even got off the mark.

“Overall, though, it was a disappointing result.

“We didn’t take the chances that came our way, in the field, and as I said last week we will be punished for that.

“The margins are much finer in the Premier League.”

After Gosling’s departure, the Whittaker brothers, Joel and Robin (20) added stability with a 58-run partnership, but Burnham’s lower order proved unable to keep up with the required run rate and succumbed to Barber, Huartson and Smith, who shared nine wickets between them.

Earlier, clumsy fielding had helped Baddow accumulate 216 for six.

Jack Silvester and Robin Whittaker took early wickets before Wilson (47), Smith (58), Milgale (40) and Barber (25) put the home side in a strong position. Robin Whittaker, Burnham’s outstanding bowler of last season, picked up from where he left off, taking for 37, and Tom Silvester finished with two for for 41.

New rules introduced this season mean bowlers are allowed a maximum of ten overs.

In the past, they were able to bowl 12.

This Saturday, Sports host Goresbrook (start 1pm), who were promoted as champions from division one last season.

They beat Sports home and away on their way to winning the crown and are sure to provide another difficult exam.