Burnham Sports unbeaten run is ended (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Burnham Sports unbeaten run is ended

4:40pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in Sport

BURNHAM Sports were left to reflect on what might have been after surrendering their unbeaten record this season with a three-wicket loss away to Stock.

Defending a tally of 161, Sports were left to rue twice dropping the dangerous Westwood before he had made double figures.

The hard-hitting batsman made the most of his escapes – making a match-winning 77 as his team overcame a late wobble to take the spoils.

Sports Skipper Andy Stephens, who missed the game due to injury, said: “It’s important we bounce straight back.

“We didn’t do ourselves justice at Stock either with the bat, ball or in the field, but it was still a game that we could easily have won.”

Stock’s run chase in the T.Rippon Mid-Essex League first division fixture was certainly an all-action affair, as they overhauled Sports in just 22 overs.

Westwood, exploiting the small ground, hit four sixes and eight fours. His team-mates hit another dozen fours and a six between them, meaning 110 of their runs came in boundaries.

Ali Allchin (11-2-78-4) endured mixed fortunes but Fuad Ahmed (5-0-17-3) proved productive. He took three wickets in five balls as Stock slipped from 142 for three to 146 for seven, but then Mayhook thumped 16 in six balls to extinguish hopes of a famous comeback.

Mayhook was finishing what he had started, having dismissed Burnham’s opening batsmen – Dominic Whittaker and Pasul Green – in rapid succession at the start of the match.

Joel Whittaker (35), standing in as skipper for the injured Stephens, and Grant Smith (31) did their best to repair the early damage, but none of their team-mates managed more than 13 on a green pitch that was on the sticky side after another soggy week.

Sports were guilty of some careless strokes and, in truth, their three wins this year have masked some indifferent batting.

Stephens is likely to return for his team’s match at home to Southweald this Saturday, but fears the shoulder injury he suffered last month will again prevent him from bowling.

Jalal Ahmed, older brother of Jahid, the former Essex player, has returned from working in Dubai and is expected to make a welcome return.

However, Grant Smith, Robin Whittaker and Rob Layzell are likely absentees.