A Superb all-round performance by Jamie Hamilton could not prevent Burnham Sports suffering a three-wicket defeat away to Bentley.

Hamilton, the Burnham captain, hit 66 and took five for 44 to give his team hope of pulling off a shock victory in the T Rippon Mid-Essex League premier division clash.

However, Bentley, one of the title favourites, had enough in reserve to leave Sports reflecting on a sixth successive defeat – one that leaves them rooted to the bottom of the table.

Hamilton’s heroics at least offered Burnham hope that they might yet turn the tide before the summer is over and, on the plus side, other clubs, such as Little Baddow and High Roding, are suffering similar travails. Survival remains a possibility.

“I’ve been feeling in fair nick but been struggling for runs, so it was a relief to reach a half-century,” Hamilton said. “My bowling has been OK but the other guys in the team did not enjoy much luck. I lost count of the times we beat the bat.

“I think most people were expecting Bentley to thrash us given our respective form going into the game and we take heart from giving them a bit of a scare.

“The disappointing aspect up until Saturday is that, regardless of the better opposition we’ve faced since being promoted, we simply have not been playing well. Perhaps this will be a turning point.”

Batting first, Sports looked in deep trouble as they slumped to 58 for five at almost the halfway point in their innings, with Joel Whittaker, who hit a polished 23, among those dismissed, adjudged LBW when sweeping.

Hamilton found a willing ally in Joel’s younger brother, Robin, though, and the sixth-wicket pair added 78 in fluent fashion before the latter was bowled for 48, having hit seven fours and a six.

Hamilton and Neil Saunders then shared a partnership of 39 for the eighth wicket, that helped the visiting team towards their final tally of 200 all out in the final over.

Bentley’s opening batsmen put on 54 inside a dozen overs before Hamilton entered the fray and grabbed three wickets in 19 balls.

The home side suddenly began to look jittery and when they slipped further, to 138 for five, the game was in the balance.

Critically, their sixth-wicket pair put on 47 to decide the outcome.

In the end, Bentley won with almost 11 overs to spare.

This Saturday, Sports entertain Springfield, the champions, who are fourth in the table and finding their momentum after losing two of their first three fixtures this term.