Allchin stars for Sports (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Allchin stars for Sports

12:47pm Thursday 9th July 2009

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Teenager Ali Allchin laid the foundations for victory as Burnham Sports won by five wickets against Writtle at Paradise Road.

The 17-year-old fast bowler grabbed four wickets for five runs in a remarkable 18-ball opening burst that left Writtle gasping for mercy in the T Rippon Mid-Essex League first division fixture.

A rapid finish seemed likely but Writtle rallied in determined fashion through Hughes (41), Harris (34), Williamson (34) and the cavalier Gopisetty (50).

This quartet enabled the home side to use all bar three of their deliveries and finish with a respectable 206 to defend.

Allchin ended with four for 43, while Andy Stephens (three for 42) and Robin Whittaker (two for 30) belatedly got in on the act.

Paul Green, meanwhile, took three catches.

In reply, Burnham never had to resort to long-handle tactics. Green (41) and Grant Smith (39) got them off to a fluent start before Joel Whittaker (18) and Jamie Hamilton (19) kept up the momentum.

The fifth-wicket pair of Jalal Ahmed (35 not out) and Sayeid Ahmed (22) then settled a few jitters with a stand of 65 that steered their side to the brink of victory.

Fittingly, it was Allchin who finished what he had started – pulling a shot to the mid-wicket boundary to seal success with seven balls left.

Writtle won the second team clash between the teams in division eight at Millfield by 130 runs.

A depleted Burnham team dug deep to limit the visiting team to 201 – a score that would have been far less but for some spirited efforts by the tail-enders.

Roger Perrin (12-1-32-1) and Fuad Ahmed (10-2-36-3) bowled superbly, while leg spinner Greg Campion took three for 53.

Sports did not enjoy the rub of the green when their turn came to bat and they subsided to 71 all out.

Steve Rees-Evans (23) and Tom Stephens (11) were the only pair to get into double figures.

On Sunday, Sports lost by four wickets to a lively young Rayleigh team in their Warsop Central Essex third division match.

Burnham reached 112 for four thanks to Allchin (42), Robin Whittaker (26) and Dominic Whittaker (25) but, after this trio had departed, crumbled to 123 all out.

Rayleigh eased past that tally with more than 13 overs to spare despite 14-year-old Tom Stephens (5-3-8-2) impressing. Bradley Powell, another youngster, also marked his debut with a wicket.

This Saturday, Burnham’s first team entertain Chignal (start 1.30pm), hoping to avenge the one-run defeat that they suffered in the reverse fixture.

The seconds play away to Rayleigh thirds, while on Sunday Sports host Downham (start 1pm).

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