A FINE century from Andy Ashfold helped Burnham to a comfortable 125-run victory on Saturday, in a match overwhelmingly dominated by the bat.

Ashfold scored 140 not out and was well supported by Pete Gaylard (85), as Burnham posted an imposing 312-2 from their 45 overs. In reply, Horrington could only manage 187-2 as Burnham's bowlers strangled the run-rate.

Having been put into bat, Burnham's openers initially made steady if not spectacular progress off the bowling of P Gray and G Gray. However, the introduction of Hudson, with the score at 55 after 14 overs, opened the floodgates and Burnham began to score with increasing ease.

The 100 partnership was brought up in the 23rd over, with Gaylard and Ashfold reaching half-centuries in the 24th and 25th overs respectively.

But Horrington's seventh bowler, M Cope finally made a breakthrough when he bowled Gaylard (85) to put an end to a 194-run opening stand that had lasted over two hours.

With Burnham in a commanding position, new batsman Adam Martin was able to play with complete freedom, and produced a scintillating 35-ball 42 in another century partnership.

At the other end, Ashfold was also in excellent nick, bringing up his century with another well-struck boundary.

By the time Martin was dismissed with three balls left, Burnham had reached 300 at home for the first time in many years. Captain Gavin Clifton provided a fitting finale, dispatching each of the remaining deliveries to the boundary, with Ashfold finishing with an unbeaten 140.

Set the daunting task of scoring 313 runs, Horrington were up against it from the outset of their innings, and when Andy Birkett took a terrific one-handed catch off his own bowling, the contest was effectively over.

Therefore, instead of attempting to chase down the total, Hudson and Rivers used the situation as an opportunity for some batting practice on a flat wicket, putting on 104 in some 26 overs.

Rivers' dismissal for 41 briefly revived Burnham's hopes of bowling Horrington out, but the match fizzled out as Hudson (72 not out) and Russell (27 not out) consolidated the remaining 10 overs.

In total, 499 runs had been scored for the loss of just 4 wickets.