Somerset Cricket League Division Two

Burnham 136 lost to Kilve 163 by 27 runs

MARTIN Green's five-wicket haul proved to be in vain as Burnham failed to improve on their miserable start to the season in a 27-run defeat to Kilve.

Green took 5-29 to help dismiss Kilve for 163 batting first, while Darren Aston returned figures of 3-35 from 11 overs.

But it was another tale of batting woe for Burnham, who slumped to 136 all out inside 40 overs, despite the best efforts of Aston (37) and Jim Bloodworth (21).

Having been asked to bowl first, Green wasted little time in getting stuck into the Kilve top-order.

He removed Martin (20) and Payne (10), while Annison (1-20) claimed the scalp of Darrell (31).

Carl Clemenson (30) and C James (24) added much-needed impetus to the Kilve innings, but Aston's introduction clawed the game back Burnham's way with three quick wickets.

Green returned to clean up the tail and return impressive figures of 5-29 from 10.3 overs as Kilve were all out in the 43rd over.

The Burnham reply got off to the worst possible start as Brad House fell without troubling the scorers, P Harris (11) followed shortly after - and A Smith was another to go without scoring.

Bloodworth had reached 21 when he fell to Clemenson (4-28) and from here, the middle-order wobble turned quickly into a collapse.

Aston and Green, the heroes with the ball, did their best to repair the damage to the batting, but they had been left with too much to do - and when Brian Brogden was dismissed for 11, the game was up for Burnham.

Burnham host Cheddar this Saturday, looking to record their first win of the season.